Bill C-301 (Historical)

An Act to amend the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act and the Canada Health Act

This enactment amends the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act to provide that a province with a program whose objectives are comparable to those of a federal program in an area under the legislative authority of the province may withdraw from the federal program.
It also amends that Act and the Canada Health Act in order to exempt Quebec from the national criteria and conditions set out for the Canada Health Transfer.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The Chair would like to take a moment to provide some information to the House regarding the management of Private Members' Business.

As members know, certain procedural realities constrain the Speaker and members insofar as legislation is concerned.

Following the replenishment of the order of precedence, the Chair has developed a practice of reviewing items so that the House can be alerted to bills that, at first glance, appear to impinge on the financial prerogative of the Crown. This allows members the opportunity to intervene in a timely fashion to present their views about the need for those bills to be accompanied by a royal recommendation.

Accordingly, following the May 31st, 2021, replenishment of the order of precedence with 15 new items, I wish to inform the House that there is one bill which preoccupies the Chair: It is Bill C-301, An Act to amend the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act and the Canada Health Act, standing in the name of the member for La Prairie.

The understanding of the Chair is that this bill may need to be accompanied by a royal recommendation.

I therefore encourage hon. members who would like to make arguments regarding the requirement of a royal recommendation for Bill C-301 to do so at the earliest opportunity.

I thank hon. members for their attention.

Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act

[Alain Therrien, Bloc, La Prairie, QC]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-301, An Act to amend the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act and the Canada Health Act.

Mr. Speaker, the bill I am introducing today would protect the provinces, and in particular Quebec, against the greatest threat to their autonomy, which I refer to as the so-called federal spending power.

Everyone knows that Ottawa transfers money to the provinces and makes sure to tell them what to do with that money. The federal government treats the provinces as subcontractors and forces them to implement its own priorities in areas that are exclusive provincial jurisdictions.

This is what my bill would address. As it stands right now, the bill would exempt Quebec from the federal standards set out in the Canada Health Act, including the upcoming long-term care standards, and would also amend the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act.

Quebec and the provinces who wish to participate will be able to withdraw, with full compensation, from federal programs that infringe on their jurisdictions. They will then be able to recover their autonomy in jurisdictions that are meant to be under their responsibility. There is a consensus on this in Quebec. All parties agree.

At its core, this bill is designed to put an end to paternalistic lecturing and predatory federalism.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)