Finance committee  If I could add to that, part of our proposal is to invest in an innovation fund. There are good things happening, but we need to be able to scale it up, put it across, and build on some of those successes. I think by creating some incentive and really building...because there is good comprehensive community-based home care reaching the elderly and supporting the families who are looking after them.

Finance committee  For us, as we're recommending an aging and senior care commission, it's presenting a comprehensive approach. Of course, Alzheimer's and dementia is one element of it, but there are also other components as you age, in trying to keep people healthy. I think it does make sense. It fits into a comprehensive approach.

Finance committee  I understand, because I did the same.

Finance committee  On the one hand, the federal government should participate in the discussions and work with the provinces and territories. On the other hand, it must establish a national vision, as well as objectives and indicators that could have a positive impact. That way, it could help Canada become one the top five countries with a good track record in that area.

Finance committee  The government should reconsider its position and formalize it by concluding an agreement with the provinces to maintain the growth of those transfers at 6%. In addition, the government should not take into account only the proportion of the population. It should also take into consideration demographics and the specifics of certain provinces, such as the Atlantic provinces and the territories.

Finance committee  Good evening. Bonsoir. On behalf of the more than 150,000 registered nurses for whom the Canadian Nurses Association represents, thank you for inviting me to join you today. You've convened this panel to address helping vulnerable Canadians. These are people who are marginalized from society because of their income, age, or because they are newcomers to this country.

Human Resources committee  I would definitely say that if there are some programs that would actually better support student entering into.... For instance, going through the university years, if you have an older student who has children, you need to have some programs that will allow them not to have to worry as they're trying to study.

Human Resources committee  We would hope that the federal government consider looking at a more pan-Canadian approach. There is a committee on human resources, the CCHRA, but it could do more by looking at and creating an observatory so that we really start looking at some of the trends and demands and the population's needs, and how we deploy our resources.

Human Resources committee  Certainly, the association puts forward models such as primary health care and at-home services so that people can stay in their homes. It's very good. I think that we should also consider offering incentives to encourage professionals to go and work in the rural areas or to stay there.

Human Resources committee  Yes.

Human Resources committee  If we really want to put in place primary health care, we should initially act on prevention and promotion. We should also consider the entire continuum of care within an interprofessional practice to maximize the capacity of all the professionals to avoid enormous shortages in one sector.

Human Resources committee  Yes, we will continue to monitor these, and evidently the information CIHI is producing is helping us to try to take a range. We try to do an assessment about every four years to try to understand where some of the changes are and what they are.

Human Resources committee  The Canadian Nurses Association certainly works with the Canadian Aboriginal Nurses Association to try to see how we can address that. There are some programs that dedicate some seats for aboriginal students, because we also believe that we need to encourage and train aboriginal nurses who can go and work in first nation communities.

Human Resources committee  I think what is critical, as well, is that we need to invest in promotion and prevention programs. We need to reduce the demand. We need to help our first nation communities on the one hand to have better living conditions and try to help them on the other hand to maintain a healthier lifestyle.

Human Resources committee  We've certainly looked at the six policy areas, and the first five are where we want to invest our energy. Evidently we know that by increasing productivity and removing some of the barriers and allowing full scope of practice is where we can reduce the shortage. Just increasing it by 1% would reduce the shortage to close to half of what the projection is right now.