Health  Mr. Speaker, we know there is more to do to provide Canadians end-of-life care. Canadians have told us they want to stay independent and receive care at home, including at the end of their lives. As part of the new health accord, the government has committed to provide $3 billion over the next four years to improve home care, including palliative care.

Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in the House today as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health to support my colleague, the member for Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam, as we debate his very important bill, Bill C-224, the good Samaritan drug overdose act. Canada is experiencing an unprecedented rise in accidental drug overdose deaths, particularly related to opioids such as fentanyl.

National Strategy for Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias Act  Madam Speaker, as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health, I appreciate the opportunity to speak about Bill C-233, an act respecting a national strategy for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. I would like to thank the hon. member for Niagara Falls for introducing the bill, and the member for Don Valley West for his continued advocacy on this very important public policy.

Daffodil Month  Madam Speaker, I am honoured to speak in this House about Daffodil Month. April is a crucial month, when Canadian Cancer Society volunteers work to raise awareness to support life-saving research for Canadians living with cancer. I have had the privilege to work as an oncology nurse and take care of many Canadians battling cancer, some of whom lost their lives, including my own Aunt Sadjiv.

Indigenous Affairs  Mr. Speaker, our government is committed to closing the gap in health outcomes for first nations and Inuit Canadians. In budget 2016, we outlined our historic investment of $8.4 billion to improve the socio-economic conditions for indigenous peoples and their communities. Health Canada collaborated with the Assembly of First Nations, community mental health leaders, and our government departments to develop our first nations mental wellness continuum framework.

Canadian Organ Donor Registry Act  Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak to Bill C-223 and to highlight our government's efforts to improve the organ and tissue donation and transplantation system in Canada. Let me begin by thanking the hon. member for Edmonton Manning for bringing this important topic to the attention of this House and for his advocacy on this important file.

Oral Health Month  Mr. Speaker, today, I am pleased to have the opportunity to stand in the House and acknowledge April as being Oral Health Month. Oral Health Month gives us the opportunity to recognize Canada's dedicated oral health professionals, as our dentists and dental hygienists work tirelessly to keep our mouths and teeth healthy.

Health  Madam Speaker, our government recognizes that universal, publicly funded health care is a core Canadian value and a foundation for economic prosperity. This is why our government is committed to upholding the Canada Health Act and its fundamental principle of providing access to medically necessary care based on need, not the ability to pay.

Health  Madam Speaker, I appreciate the the opportunity to speak today. I am pleased to take part in this important debate and I wish to thank the member for raising this issue for debate at this time. Our government is committed to protecting our publicly funded health care system. Like all Canadians, we share the strong belief that all individuals deserve access to timely, quality, universal health care, regardless of their background, physical needs, where they live or how much they make.

Vaisakhi  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Vaisakhi, the spring harvest festival celebrated across South Asia and the world. Vaisakhi is particularly significant to Sikh Canadians as it marks the anniversary of the inauguration of the Khalsa and the fundamental principles of Sikhism by the 10th guru, Guru Gobind Singh.

Citizenship Act  Madam Speaker, first I would like to thank my friend, the member for Surrey Centre, for his excellent speech. Bill C-6 is an extremely important bill to me, as a proud immigrant, a first-generation Canadian, and to my diverse riding of Brampton West. Family reunification is vital to my constituents.

Health  Madam Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for her important work and passion on this file. Our government recognizes and values the benefits of a publicly-funded health care system, which promotes equality by ensuring all eligible residents have access to health care services without direct charges, regardless of their economic situation.

Health  Madam Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to address my colleague's concerns about the federal government's commitment to Canada's health care system and to the Canada Health Act. I am pleased to have the opportunity to comment. Let me begin by assuring members that the government is fully committed to protecting our publicly-funded health care system and will defend the fundamental tenet that all Canadians should have reasonable access to medically necessary care based on need and not the ability to pay.

Justice  Mr. Speaker, the member is well aware that the Allard decision is about medical marijuana for people who are ill and need it, and must have access to it. It is prescribed by medical professionals. The Allard decision was released, and it is important that we take the necessary steps and the time to examine it.

Black History Month  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in the final week of Black History Month to recognize the contributions of the hon. Jean Augustine and Mr. Garnett Manning. I had the privilege of meeting both of these remarkable Canadians this month. The hon. Jean Augustine was both the first black school principal in our country and the first black woman to serve in the House.