Health Committee on May 7th, 2007

[Frank Fedyk]

In terms of the resources that are going into the activities we're working on with the provinces and territories, drug products are remaining the same in terms of--

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, St. Paul's, ON]

Obviously we're in the study now. But in terms of post-market surveillance of drugs, aren't you going to need more money if you're going to do that properly?

[Tony Clement, Conservative, Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON]

Yes. Certainly this is an area we are going to be pursuing quite aggressively. I can assure you of that. Post-market surveillance is something we're very interested in, and there will be an opportunity for us, of course, to make sure we have the appropriate resources when that occurs.

Deputy, do you want to add something on that?

[Morris Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, St. Paul's, ON]

While your people are fumbling for pages, I would really like to know where the $100 million is that we thought we were going to get to have more slots for aboriginal nurses and doctors, such that it would no longer look so colonial. Where are the slots for aboriginal doctors and nurses, and what happened to that $100 million that was assigned for that?

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Merrifield]

I'll allow an answer for the previous question before we get into this last one.

Go ahead, Mr. Rosenberg.

[Morris Rosenberg]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

In the health products and food branch, there is a bit of an ebb and flow. There are some amounts that are decreasing. Certainly one of the amounts that are increasing is an additional $6.1 million for strengthening the safety of drugs, medical devices, and other therapeutic products. That would be the first point I'd make.

The second point I'd make is that we're in the process now, as I think the committee is aware, of a consultation on a blueprint for the renewal of our regulatory systems. As that consultation goes forward, we will examine the resource needs. We'll look first internally to reallocation, but if that can't meet our needs, the case would be made for additional resources at the appropriate time.

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, St. Paul's, ON]

I really don't see any health human resources strategy money. I'm having trouble.

The thing we had at the top of our list was to get more aboriginal doctors and nurses, and I guess I'd like to know the strategy for that, as well as what we're doing about aging nurses and how we're going to help train more family doctors. We're still sticking to the same five wait time things, people waiting for family doctors and culturally appropriate people. I guess I don't see any of that here.

[Tony Clement, Conservative, Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON]

It is there. First of all, on first nations and Inuit health care, we've actually increased the budget by 6.4% over last year, so that includes provision of additional services by medical professionals.

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, St. Paul's, ON]

No, I'm not talking about services; I'm talking about creating indigenous physicians and nurses.

[Tony Clement, Conservative, Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON]

As I say, we have a number of different programs for that. We have two pots of money. One is a $20 million fund. Another one is a $100 million fund that is specifically designed to assist the provinces and territories in recruitment and retention of medical professionals. So we are still in that business, and we still have to be in that business.

With respect to wait time guarantees, part of the funding for wait time guarantees goes to health human resources, because we know it's not just a question of information technology, not just a question of management. If we don't have the doctors, if we don't have the nurses, if we don't have the medical professionals, we can't provide the services.

So we're on the same page.

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, St. Paul's, ON]

About the $100 million that came out, could you table a strategy?

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Merrifield]

I'm sorry, the time has gone for this question.

We'll move now to Ms. Pat Davidson, for five minutes.

[Patricia Davidson, Conservative, Sarnia—Lambton, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thanks, Mr. Minister and staff, for appearing before the committee today.

I'm going to start out with a question on indoor air quality. We have heard an awful lot over the last few months about outdoor air quality and the government's plans to improve that. We know that indoor air quality is of vital importance to people, certainly for all of the work areas and even the homes that we all live in.

Mr. Minister, can you tell me if there's anything being done on indoor air quality?

[Tony Clement, Conservative, Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON]

Sure. Indeed, Canadians spend 90% of their time indoors, so it's not just a theoretical issue; it's something we have to be concerned about. And there are many threats to indoor air quality, including radon, which is a radioactive gas substance, mould, and other issues that have impacts on health outcomes.

What I can tell you is that part and parcel of Bill C-30, the Clean Air Act, there is a section on indoor air quality. It's our view that this is certainly part of the act that should be supported by all parties because it's the first time the federal government has aggressively tackled indoor air quality. Outdoor air quality is the sexy issue, perhaps, but indoor air quality might make as important an impact or an even more important impact on health outcomes in many different communities.

So we do have a plan of action. Part of it has to do with getting the data to find out where certain areas are suffering from poor indoor air quality and then coming up with a plan in terms of how we build our buildings and how we build our houses to make sure those can be improved upon.

[Patricia Davidson, Conservative, Sarnia—Lambton, ON]

Thank you.

In your remarks to us at the beginning of the meeting, you talked about research efforts and so on, and the $22 million for the Canadian Institute for Health Information. Then you also talked about the autism spectrum disorder research symposium that's coming up later this year.

Certainly, autism in my riding is a very important issue, an issue that is at the forefront of many of the constituents' minds, and I know it is across Canada. Can you tell us a bit more about this research symposium and what this might mean?

[Tony Clement, Conservative, Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON]

Sure.

First of all, let me say that last November I was pleased to announce, on behalf of the Government of Canada, a five-pronged initiative for autism spectrum disorder, and it was the first time the federal government had a comprehensive plan. It's within our area of jurisdiction and competency. Part of it is in the research area; part of it is in the surveillance area, because there hasn't been any national surveillance on this; part of it is how we organize ourselves in Health Canada so we can be on top of things better; and part of it, as you said, is the stakeholder symposium, and that will be an opportunity for knowledge transfer on ASD. It will mean that health care professionals will be there and can disseminate the latest information. We'll have the researchers there, but we'll also have community groups, teachers, individuals, and family members who will be part of that process to disseminate best practices and lessons learned and maybe focus us on how we can do better in the future.

That's what I can tell you to date. There is still some planning going on to nail down a date, location, and some specific agenda items. Certainly that's our intention.

[Patricia Davidson, Conservative, Sarnia—Lambton, ON]

Thank you.

I have one other question. We've just had the National Advisory Council on Aging and the new seniors development announced, with Senator LeBreton heading that up. What role will the Minister of Health have in this, or is there a role?

[Tony Clement, Conservative, Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON]

We do have a role that we share with Monte Solberg's department as well as with Senator LeBreton. Our role, of course, is specifically on seniors' health.

We had a council in Health Canada that now is rolled into the broader council. We have asked that council to look at some specific issues, such as injury prevention for seniors; Alzheimer's, of course, for obvious reasons; mental health issues; emergency preparedness; healthy aging; health human resources, as these apply to seniors in our population; palliative care; caregiving; and chronic disease management. These are all issues that have sometimes a disproportionate impact, but certainly an impact on seniors and senior health, and so we are expecting and hoping for some good advice from that council.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Merrifield]

Your time is gone.

We'll now move on to Monsieur Malo.

[Luc Malo, Bloc, Verchères—Les Patriotes, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Gentlemen, minister, thank you for being with us.

Minister, we've received a communication from practitioners concerning a document prepared by Health Canada entitled “In Difficult Times, Compassionate Care”. The French version of that document apparently contains errors, and the language used is quite laboured and hard to understand for a certain part of the clientele.

Could you tell us whether the adaptation of these kinds of documents is done internally at Health Canada? Would it be possible to redo, for example, the production, distribution of this kind of document, which could be useful to a large part of the population?

[Tony Clement, Conservative, Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON]

Thank you for your question.

Unfortunately, I myself don't have a direct answer to your question because I'm not aware of the situation. However, perhaps someone else can answer it.

[Morris Rosenberg]

I'm not aware of that document, but I would be pleased to get a copy of it so that we can check it.

There are no rules or principles at Health Canada. It depends on the nature of the translation or of the drafting of the document. A document may be originally prepared in English or in French, then translated. It may be translated within the department or we can use the services of contract translators.

So if you can provide us with a copy of that document, we'll do the necessary follow-up to check it.

[Luc Malo, Bloc, Verchères—Les Patriotes, QC]

If I give you the title, would you be able to find it?

[Morris Rosenberg]

I hope so.