Evidence of meeting #3 for Health in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was million.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:15 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Health
I cannot make that undertaking. I'll have to speak to my minister about that, and we will provide it as soon as we can.
5:15 p.m.
Conservative
5:15 p.m.
Chief Public Health Officer, Public Health Agency of Canada
I was just saying the minister had made a commitment and her will is to come back to committee on those items.
5:15 p.m.
NDP
Judy Wasylycia-Leis NDP Winnipeg North, MB
Dr. Butler-Jones, could you tell us whether or not the community action program for children will continue after this fiscal year?
5:15 p.m.
Chief Public Health Officer, Public Health Agency of Canada
We've already committed through 2010; 2010 is the time when all the authorities expire and we have to renegotiate the authorities, but there is no plan to do anything other than continue at this moment.
5:15 p.m.
NDP
Judy Wasylycia-Leis NDP Winnipeg North, MB
Can I just have some assurances that nowhere on the list of cutbacks appears the centres of excellence for women's health?
5:15 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joy Smith
Who would like to answer that question? Mr. Rosenberg, would you like to make a comment?
5:15 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Health
Yes. I believe women's programs will continue as they are.
5:15 p.m.
NDP
Judy Wasylycia-Leis NDP Winnipeg North, MB
Thank you. I'm looking forward to that complete list so we can complete the estimates process. I don't think any of us wants to sign off on anything until we get the complete story.
On aboriginal health, Mr. Rosenberg, you talked about $135 million in terms of infrastructure investment for nurses, residents, and health clinics. You know and I know--we all know--there's a huge nurse shortage on reserves. How are we going to train the nurses and get them in place at the same time that we're going to have these residences up and running, which I assume is in short order given the statements by the government?
5:15 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Department of Health
Thank you, Madam Chair. I'd be pleased to respond to that question.
In terms of investments in infrastructure, it's for health facilities and nursing residences, including a lot of repairs to existing residences. You're right, it is a challenge to hire nurses, so we have invested a lot in recruitment and training of nurses. We're taking initiatives now, working provincially, and we have different strategies in different provinces, depending on what the needs are. We're also working on retention strategies, improving our housing, and our training for nurses, so we are seized with these issues.
A lot of the money isn't just for hiring nurses; it's also to ensure there are other supports in place. For example, we're looking at potentially changing the mix of nurses and hiring other professionals like health paramedics to assist nurses in doing their work.
5:20 p.m.
NDP
Judy Wasylycia-Leis NDP Winnipeg North, MB
Is there a budget line for hiring and retention of nurses and other professionals on aboriginal first nations?
5:20 p.m.
NDP
5:20 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Department of Health
Yes, there is. Out of the $305 million, there is $30 million a year for improving nursing. In addition, in Budget 2008 there was another $34 million invested over five years for training, recruitment, and retention of nurses. So altogether we have a total investment of $95 million.
5:20 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Department of Health
The $60 million is over two years and the $35 million is over five years.
5:20 p.m.
NDP
Judy Wasylycia-Leis NDP Winnipeg North, MB
It sounds like a pretty small amount for such a big problem, but I won't ask you to comment on that.
Before you go, I'd like to ask about how much money has been recouped from the millions of dollars that were robbed out of the system by the former director of the Virginia Fontaine Addictions Treatment Foundation at Sagkeeng.
5:20 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Department of Health
I don't have the total. All I can say is that Health Canada takes this situation very seriously, and we are doing everything possible to recover funds for the taxpayer.
5:20 p.m.
NDP