Poll after poll has shown that Canadians are telling us that health is their priority and that the quality of the public health care system in the country is very important to them. A number of Canadians even see this as being part of their identities.
Over the past four or five years in Montreal, we have seen a real shift towards the privatization of health care systems through an increase in private clinics and private hospitals at times. Those institutions are charging more and more fees for some medical procedures or for patients to have tests done or see a doctor.
We hold so strongly to the principles under the Canada Health Act, including universal health care and access to health care.
Could you tell me what the department is going to do to uphold those principles, which are at the very heart of our public health system, and to prevent credit cards from replacing health cards in order to have access to care?