Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I think I'd like to perhaps just quickly repeat some things that have been said many times, both in the House and here at this table. The first is that only in the NDP's mind would an increase of 6% to 2016-17 be a decrease in funding. Also, there is a commitment thereafter for a baseline, an absolute minimum, of 3% but also potentially more.
Our government continues to maintain a commitment to a sustainable health care system.
It's always very interesting to me that we forget about jurisdictional issues—who's responsible for delivering the services and actually what they're planning to do. Also, what some people have not noted is that within our government we've made other measures in terms of supporting Canadians with some of the challenges they have—things like the caregiver tax credit, lifting the medical expense ceiling on that just recently, and the $100 billion announced for brain research.
It was interesting, you know.... The report came out today from the Health Council of Canada. We heard from one of our witnesses that the issue is not money; the issue is innovation. There are many countries that spend less money and have better outcomes. Clearly we can be doing things differently.
I think I'll just quote from Dr. Jack Kitts today:
Real progress is being made when comprehensive strategies with concrete targets are put in place.... An improved approach to goal-setting and performance measurement in the health care system will provide greater impetus to change and achieve higher levels of progress.
I would look at those comments and say they absolutely reflect the commitment our minister made in terms of how we're going to move forward in partnership with our provinces and territories to deal with one of the issues that's a big challenge and something Canadians clearly care about.