Evidence of meeting #61 for Finance in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was transfer.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Glenn Campbell  Director, International Policy and Analysis Division , Department of Finance
Gilles Moreau  Director General, National Compensation, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Department of Public Safety
Jonathan Roy  Senior Policy Analyst, Social Policy, Health, Justice, Culture, Department of Finance
Daniel MacDonald  Chief, Federal-Provincial Relations Division, CHT/CST and Northern Policy, Department of Finance
John Davies  Director General, National Security Policy, Department of Public Safety
Darryl Hirsch  Senior Policy Analyst, Intelligence Policy and Coordination, Department of Public Safety
Nigel Harrison  Manager, Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
David Gillis  Director General, Ecosystems and Oceans Science Sector, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
David Lee  Director, Office of Legislative and Regulatory Modernization; Policy, Planning and International Affairs Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch, Department of Health
Samuel Godefroy  Director General, Food Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch, Department of Health
Alwyn Child  Director General, Program Development and Guidance Directorate, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
Annette Nicholson  Secretary and General Counsel, International Development Research Centre (IDRC)
Lenore Duff  Senior Director, Strategic Policy and Legislative Reform, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
Dominique La Salle  Director General, Seniors and Pensions Policy Secretariat, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
Nathalie Martel  Director, Old Age Security Policy, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
Bruno Rodrigue  Chief, Social policy, Income Security, Department of Finance
Annette Vermaeten  Director, Task Force, Special Projects, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
Eileen Boyd  Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Senior Personnel, Privy Council Office
Neil Bouwer  Vice-President, Policy and Programs, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Lynn Tassé  Director, Canada Gazette, Department of Public Works and Government Services
Gerard Peets  Senior Director, Strategy and Planning Directorate, Department of Industry
Patricia Brady  Director, Investment, Insolvency, Competition and Corporate Policy Directorate, Department of Industry
Andy Lalonde  Manager, Preclearance, Canada Border Services Agency, Department of Public Safety
Lynn Hemmings  Senior Chief, Payments, Payments and Pensions, Financial Sector Policy Branch, Department of Finance

3:45 p.m.

Director General, National Compensation, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Department of Public Safety

Gilles Moreau

They are aware of the proposed change to the act. There have been discussions between the provincial health departments and Health Canada. We will address those questions with them next week to determine how implementation will be done because the provincial legislation and regulations must be amended to enable RCMP members to obtain health insurance cards, even if the Canadian act is amended.

3:45 p.m.

NDP

Guy Caron NDP Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC

Thank you very much.

3:45 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative James Rajotte

Thank you.

I'll go to Ms. McLeod, please.

May 17th, 2012 / 3:45 p.m.

Conservative

Cathy McLeod Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have a quick comment.

Certainly I can see there will be significant opportunities in terms of the RCMP and the administration. It was very interesting a few weeks ago when we met with a number of physicians and physician offices and hospital administrators. There are also some savings at that end, I understand. One of the physicians indicated to us that between these different separate and special programs they were spending a day a week, which could be spent on patient care, taking care of aboriginal affairs or the RCMP or whatever. Not only are there going to be savings within the federal government at our end, but certainly at another system and structure at the provincial end.

3:45 p.m.

Director General, National Compensation, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Department of Public Safety

Gilles Moreau

I'm a police officer. It's an observation you're making. Perhaps that would make sense.

3:45 p.m.

Conservative

Cathy McLeod Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC

Thank you.

3:45 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative James Rajotte

Thank you.

Mr. Brison, go ahead, please.

3:45 p.m.

Liberal

Scott Brison Liberal Kings—Hants, NS

Thank you very much for joining us today.

The federal government has a responsibility for health care for the RCMP and for first nations, aboriginal. Those are the primary two, I guess, the military and....

3:45 p.m.

Jonathan Roy Senior Policy Analyst, Social Policy, Health, Justice, Culture, Department of Finance

Yes, the military, members of the Canadian Forces, and people in federal penitentiaries as well.

3:50 p.m.

Liberal

Scott Brison Liberal Kings—Hants, NS

Yes. Those would be the groups: federal penitentiary inmates; RCMP and military; and aboriginal and first nations.

The director of communications for the Minister of Public Safety said, when these changes were announced, “We are upgrading their status so that they can receive the same high standard of health care as any other Canadian”. She was indicating there's a delta between the quality of the health care provided to RCMP currently and the quality of health care afforded by the provincial systems. What are some of the differences in terms of quality she would be referring to?

3:50 p.m.

Director General, National Compensation, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Department of Public Safety

Gilles Moreau

I would not be able to answer that question.

Basically, the way forward is that members of the RCMP will receive the same as residents of a province or a territory. Our members are receiving health care right now, which we provide through another card that we issue to them. Sometimes they have to pay up front—pay out of pocket and get reimbursed. The whole processing and the access perhaps will be much better regarding having to submit bills when you see your doctor if you don't take your card.

3:50 p.m.

Liberal

Scott Brison Liberal Kings—Hants, NS

Is the situation, as it has been or is currently, universally the case across Canada? For instance, if you were in Halifax or Ottawa as a corporal in the RCMP, would you not already be using the provincial system?

3:50 p.m.

Director General, National Compensation, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Department of Public Safety

Gilles Moreau

No, we don't have provincial health cards.

3:50 p.m.

Liberal

Scott Brison Liberal Kings—Hants, NS

At all?

3:50 p.m.

Director General, National Compensation, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Department of Public Safety

Gilles Moreau

Basically, you can still get access to the same doctors; however, they will bill the RCMP differently.

3:50 p.m.

Liberal

Scott Brison Liberal Kings—Hants, NS

There would be no delta in quality in communities like Ottawa or Halifax or Toronto. It would be the same system; it's just a different payment system.

3:50 p.m.

Director General, National Compensation, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Department of Public Safety

Gilles Moreau

The payment system is different.

3:50 p.m.

Liberal

Scott Brison Liberal Kings—Hants, NS

On the quality difference she's referring to, would that be more based in remote communities?

3:50 p.m.

Director General, National Compensation, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Department of Public Safety

Gilles Moreau

I cannot answer that as far as what she's referring to. I would say that in remote communities, having access to a doctor or to health care will remain the same as what it is for our members. And we want to make sure that they have access to health care like any other Canadians.

3:50 p.m.

Liberal

Scott Brison Liberal Kings—Hants, NS

I just want to clarify this. The director of communications for the Minister of Public Safety has said they are upgrading their status, and she's saying that the reason is so that they can receive the same high standard of health care as any other Canadian. But you're saying the quality of health care was not part of the decision-making process in this.

3:50 p.m.

Director General, National Compensation, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Department of Public Safety

Gilles Moreau

I don't know what she's referring to as far as the differences are concerned; however, I can tell you that our members are receiving quality health care right now and will continue to receive quality health care in the future.

3:50 p.m.

Liberal

Scott Brison Liberal Kings—Hants, NS

Mr. Chair, we ought to hear perhaps from Ms. Carmichael, or someone from the Ministry of Public Safety, just to help edify for us what she meant by that, the differences in health care. She clearly said that they were upgrading their status, making this change so that they can receive the same standard of health care as any other Canadian. I think it's important for us to understand that, because it's not clear. I appreciate Mr. Moreau is not aware of that. It would perhaps be helpful to have her come.

3:50 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative James Rajotte

You can certainly suggest her as a witness.

3:50 p.m.

Liberal

Scott Brison Liberal Kings—Hants, NS

Yes, I think that would be helpful. Thank you.

3:50 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative James Rajotte

I'll go to Ms. Glover, please.