Yes, Mr. Caron, there is an absolute need now, immediately, for home care, palliative care, and mental health care.
Some $3 billion has already been promised to be spent in this category. None of it has been spent and none of it was proposed in the last budget. We surmise it was to be used as a bargaining chip for the current discussions with the health ministers of the provinces. Be that as it may, the money should flow as soon as possible.
However, it is important that the money not be sent out without conditions. Part of the problems with the sector at the moment has been that despite billions being sent out after the health accords in 2004, directly directed at post-acute home care and chronic care, the sector has not benefited very well, largely because the money was sopped up by administration, the hospitals, and the doctors. Unless you solve those structural problems beforehand, even $3 billion will not be enough. A complete package has to come forward, a proper strategy, specifically to deal with home care and targeted at seniors.