Health Committee on April 17th, 2008

[Judy Wasylycia-Leis, NDP, Winnipeg North, MB]

I appreciate that. However, this issue has been before us for such a long time that Canadians are looking for more than a sharing of reports, more than just getting the problem on the radar screen. When Canadians are given an election promise to reduce or eliminate wait times, they expect that something might happen besides a sharing of information and better dialogue.

Let me leave it at that for now and go to another big area that my colleague, Carolyn Bennett, raised: human resources strategy. The five-year strategy is up now. We're waiting for the next five-year strategy. We're wondering what it is, when it will be kicked off, who will be in charge. What will be different in this five-year stretch that will actually produce results? After five years' effort on this front, we have the worst human resources problem in the history of health care in this country. We have a huge doctor shortage, a huge nurse shortage, a huge lab tech shortage. Yet there's been no concrete program, on the part of the federal government, to facilitate a process that will address this serious problem.

Is a new strategy in the works? Is a new five-year strategy being planned?

[Dr. Karen Dodds]

The $38 million per year that the government has invested is ongoing, so there will continue to be improvements and there will continue to be changes seen in the provision of health human resources.

On the access question, information from the Health Council indicates that 96% of Canadians do have access to primary health care.

Some of the information on wait times that was exchanged at the conference earlier this week indicated that provinces in a couple of areas have eliminated a backlog, so now they are turning their attention to other areas.

So you can see where we can expect to see some progress. I know all of us wish it was faster.

[Judy Wasylycia-Leis, NDP, Winnipeg North, MB]

I probably don't have much time. Let me ask three or four questions.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

You only have one minute.

[Judy Wasylycia-Leis, NDP, Winnipeg North, MB]

Is there a health human resource strategy being planned with goals and objectives for a five- or ten-year period?

Where is the national pharmaceutical strategy, which was part of the 10-year health plan? It is not mentioned in your report that I can tell. We have heard nothing. There have been no meetings. It looks like it is dead in the water, dying on the vine, gathering dust.

Where is the home care strategy that was part of the 10-year accord? First-dollar coverage for a number of services--I don't see that mentioned.

Where is the strategy for health care in the north?

Those are my four questions, as an initial go-round.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Your time is almost up, Ms. Wasylycia-Leis.

Dr. Dodds, do the best you can with one or two of those.

[Dr. Karen Dodds]

Again, on health human resources, I'll reinforce that those dollars--$38 million per year--are ongoing and that we continue to work with our provincial partners on that.

On home care, the provinces are implementing their commitments on home care.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Thank you.

We'll now go to Mr. Fletcher.

[Steven Fletcher, Conservative, Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia, MB]

Thank you, Madam Chair. I would like to thank the witnesses for coming today.

I will make some comments and then I'll ask for comments from the panel. On human resources, one of the key areas where we could really benefit is through international medical graduates and our immigration policy.

I would like to take a moment to thank the Liberals for their support of our immigration policy. I hope the Liberals will continue to support our immigration policy to allow IMGs to come in and contribute to our country in a timely manner.

[Some hon. members]

[Inaudible--Editor]

[Steven Fletcher, Conservative, Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia, MB]

Madam Chair, members are heckling. I wish they would listen to these very important comments.

In regard to the Wait Time Alliance, I have the report here. I am afraid my friend from the NDP mischaracterized the report.

We have to remember that we came from 10 years of darkness and from the abyss in health care, and the patient wait time report card on the progress--

[Some hon. members]

[Inaudible--Editor]

[Wajid Khan, Conservative, Mississauga—Streetsville, ON]

A point of order. I want to listen to what the gentleman is saying. There seems to be a lot of noise here.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

I call this to order, and I would ask all members to please stick to the topic at hand. Thank you.

Carry on, please, Mr. Fletcher.

[Steven Fletcher, Conservative, Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia, MB]

I am talking about the Wait Time Alliance. The member from the NDP raised it and mischaracterized the wait times.

Let me quote from their press release. It said:

Significant changes from last year's WTA Report Card on progress toward implementing the 2004 10-Year Plan to Strengthen Health Care are:

- Access indicators: the grade changed from an "incomplete" in 2007 to a C+ in 2008.

- Benchmark targets: the grade increased from a D in 2007 to a C+ in 2008.

- Wait time information: the grade increased from a C in 2007 to a C+ in 2008.

The trend is moving forward. We're moving up. I am sure we are going to see even more progress. But the key is that there's progress. From nothing we have something, and we have a future.

So I have three questions for the panel. One is, I would like you to talk a little bit more about the Wait Time Alliance, and I would also like you to talk a little bit about the funding, the $612 million, for wait times. And there was base funding, and I wonder, how many provinces and territories have received base funding.

I also want to follow up with our friend from Quebec.

What was the consequence of the agreement made with Quebec?

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Dr. Dodds.

[Dr. Karen Dodds]

One of your first questions was about work on health human resources and the internationally educated health professionals initiative. That initiative is under way. It has been established to accelerate and expand the assessment and integration of internationally educated health professionals into the health care system. The government has committed $18 million per year for five years to that initiative.

You were also asking for some further information on the Wait Time Alliance report card.

[Steven Fletcher, Conservative, Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia, MB]

And how does the funding work?

[Dr. Karen Dodds]

On the specific areas of wait times, for hip replacements it's a B; for knee replacements it's a C; for cancer care it's an A; for sight restoration it's a B; and for cardiac care it's an A. So some of those results are definitely on the plus side.

[Steven Fletcher, Conservative, Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia, MB]

The report card does show significant improvements in the areas of sight restoration and join replacement.

I realize I'm coming to the end of my time, but I'd like to take a moment on behalf of the government to thank the people of Health Canada and the Public Health Agency, and all the medical practitioners on the front line, who have allowed us to really make such stark improvements in the health care system in such a short period of time. I hope for and look forward to the continued support of the official opposition in our government as we move forward.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Dr. Dodds, there's still a minute and a half if you have any further comments you would like to bring forward.

[Dr. Karen Dodds]

Mr. Fletcher asked a question about the funds allocated to the provinces and territories. Each province received $10 million and each territory received $4 million.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Mr. Fletcher, you have one more minute.

[Steven Fletcher, Conservative, Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia, MB]

Of the $612 million for patient wait times, maybe you could elaborate on how the provinces are spending that. There was an accusation that the money is being syphoned off for other things. But between fixing the fiscal imbalance and the health accord, is it not true that the provinces have received a significant amount of money to enable them to fulfill their responsibilities under the Constitution?

[Krista Campbell, Senior Chief, Federal-Provincial Relations Division, Federal-Provincial Relations and Social Policy Branch, Director's Office, Department of Finance]

In response to questions about the patient wait times guarantee, all of the funding has been provided to provinces and territories--the $612 million through the trust fund. In order to be eligible to receive funding, all provinces and territories had to make commitments on how they intended to use that funding. They are held to account by their auditors general and their health departments. They make announcements through their budgets and are ultimately held accountable for how they spend that funding by their citizens and their electorate.