Health Committee on Feb. 10th, 2009

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

Would it be okay if I just seek clarification on that?

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Could we please let the minister finish?

Madam Minister.

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Nunavut, NU]

I'll be done in a second.

Our government supports the health care and the transfer, and in 2009-10, the Canada health transfer will grow by $1.4 billion, to a total of $24 billion from $22.6 billion. Again, this support will continue to grow by 6% annually, reaching over $30 billion in 2013-14. My officials can provide more information on the details of the health transfer.

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

I appreciate that very much.

My question was quite a bit different. My question was on the acknowledged shortfall that about half a dozen provinces were subject to in this last budget. It's been acknowledged by your government. I simply want to know if you have let those provinces know that the money will be restored. That was one question, yes or no.

Second, will you agree to come to this committee and deal with the Canada Health Act annual report, which we are obligated to review and for which we expect some dialogue with the minister? Just yes or no on both questions.

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Nunavut, NU]

Thank you.

Transfers to provinces have grown. In terms of the breakdown, I'll ask my officials for information.

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

Just yes or no, whether the provinces received notice, that's all.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Madam Minister, did you have anything else to say?

I would ask that all members listen very carefully, and I'll make sure you get all your comments in. I would ask you to be respectful, let the minister finish her comments, and I'll make sure you have time to ask your questions.

Ms. Wasylycia-Leis.

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

I think I'll go on. I'm not going to get an answer to that question. We didn't get a commitment from the minister that she will come, so I will try a motion again before the committee on the Canada Health Act.

Let me ask about the pharmaceuticals strategy, which has now been in the works for over five years, the national pharmaceuticals strategy that federal-provincial ministers agreed to. We're no further ahead; nothing has happened.

We just received another report from the Health Council, A Prescription Unfulfilled, where they clearly make the point that at a time of economic recession nothing is more important than people being able to access the drugs they need, yet we have not had one whiff of commitment from this government about how they're planning to proceed. The latest provincial offer was for a 50-50 cost sharing on catastrophic drugs, 50-50 cost splits to meet the cost of drugs for rare diseases.

I would like to know where the federal government is on those two ideas and with respect to the national pharmaceuticals strategy. This is rather urgent and important.

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Nunavut, NU]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I've been around the federal-provincial tables for the last four and a half years. There has been no agreement in terms of the national pharmaceuticals strategy around that table. We've had a number of discussions around how to try to deal with the issue.

I want to be very clear that our Prime Minister is committed to upholding the Canada Health Act. I think it also needs to be very clear that the provinces and territories deliver health care, including deciding which prescription drugs would be included in their formularies. This is a provincial-territorial responsibility funded through the Canada Health Act. We are committed to working with the provinces and territories to make our health care system more efficient, and by working together with our partners, but we can find savings that can be redirected to public drug plans. I will continue to work with my provincial-territorial colleagues on that very issue, as I recognize it is an important subject. But in the last four years we have not made any decisions on how to proceed with that matter.

Thank you.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I'm tempted to ask whether there is at least a national pharmaceutical strategy somewhere at work in the bureaucracy, but maybe we'll come to that another day. Maybe I could suggest you look at Life Before Pharmacare, which was the report by the Canadian Health Coalition, written after they conducted extensive hearings across the country. It documents what happens to workers when they lose their jobs and they don't have access to pharmaceuticals and why this issue is growing in importance today.

Let me just ask three short questions. First, can the organizations dealing with services for HIV and AIDS be guaranteed that they will not receive any more cutbacks this year, since they had a huge cutback last year? Second, further to the Bloc's question and the $12.9 million that was not spent under the tobacco strategy, I'd like to ask where that money went and why it was not used to deal with the tobacco strategy for first nations, to help deal with a serious problem at that level. Thirdly, the CIHR funds were cut in this budget, down from $998 million to $932 million. Is there any chance that could be reconsidered for some of the organizations, like juvenile diabetes, that have been begging this government for some assistance? Would they be able to have access to some of that money?

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Madam Wasylycia-Leis, we're just about out of time. Could we give the minister some time to answer some of your questions?

Madam Minister.

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Nunavut, NU]

Thank you.

I look forward to meeting with my colleague later today to perhaps discuss some of these in more detail without the time restriction.

The government has demonstrated very clear leadership around HIV/AIDS federal initiatives. Last year we invested more than $84 million towards HIV/AIDS research initiatives, and that is the most that has ever been spent in the history of this nation. The government investments will support the Canadian HIV vaccine initiative; community groups will also receive more funding than ever before to support that; and our Prime Minister has demonstrated leadership through our investments of $130 million over five years, in partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. I believe the commitment towards this initiative is clear, and we are committed to this program on an ongoing basis.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Thank you, Madam Minister.

Dr. Carrie.

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

I'd like to talk a little bit about product safety. Lately, it seems like we're seeing an increase in the number of recalls; we've heard about the lead paint in children's toys, about crib recalls. I just got another e-mail today from a constituent in Oshawa, where I'm from, and I think people are really concerned about the safety of these consumer products in an era of globalization. I was wondering if you could elaborate on what the Government of Canada is doing to ensure that these products are safe.

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Nunavut, NU]

Thank you for that question. Protecting and promoting the health and safety of Canadians, their families, and communities is a priority of this Conservative government. Canadians should have the confidence that the products they buy are safe, and that is why we are reintroducing the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act. This is about equipping our government with the tools needed to act quickly and effectively to protect Canadians. This also includes an increase in the frequency of sampling and testing and a doubling of the number of inspectors.

The legislation was also outdated. We needed to reintroduce it to modernize it; it's about forty years old. I call on the opposition members to support our legislation and to help protect children and Canadian families.

Thank you.

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

I was wondering if we could clarify something that Madam Wasylycia-Leis mentioned about the transfers. I believe the transfers are going through and every province and territory is going to be getting what they are expecting. Isn't that true?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Nunavut, NU]

Budget 2009 proposed adjustments to the Canada health transfer, which refer to the details in the Budget Implementation Act, and a letter from the Minister of Finance to the provinces and territories was sent out on Friday, February 6, 2009. The adjustments are intended to ensure that the transfers take place. That's where that is at.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Mr. Brown.

[Patrick Brown, Conservative, Barrie, ON]

Thank you.

Madam Minister, I thank you for your presentation today.

Recently I had a doctor in Barrie, Dr. Craig Curphey, call me about the natural health product approval process and how sometimes it can be difficult. I want to ask, Madam Minister, if there's any work being done by the government to make that process for the approval of natural health products easier in Canada.

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Nunavut, NU]

Thank you very much for your question.

The issue of the natural health products process, the whole backlog of the process, is one that our government has been trying to address. Our government is committed to eliminating the backlog by March 2010. As it is right now, I believe, tomorrow or this week we're releasing a report on the progress made in the natural health product application process.

I'm just going to read the notes as to where we are with that.

There have been no backlogs in site licences, or establishment licences, and there were 804 establishments licensed as of February 4. We're on target to reduce the backlog in licence applications by 2010. More than 10,000 licences have been issued. The rate at which product licences are issued is steadily increasing, and progress is continuing in that area.

We've also made a number of business process improvements to reduce the backlog. We're launching a natural health product online system shortly, where licences will be issued within days—a fast-track approach for review of low-risk natural health products. That will be online.

We're batching applications of similar product types to allow for faster processing. Also, we're simplifying and streamlining the applications and review process by working with the industry. We're delivering workshops to assist industry in improving the quality of applications, standardization, labelling requirements, and standardizing general claim requirements.

We're providing a quarterly progress report on backlog reduction to be posted online--October-December 2008, as an example. It will be posted this week.

We're launching a database for consumers and users of natural health products, so that they know which natural health products have been licensed by Health Canada. The rate of licensing is greater than the rate of review, and it's important information.

That is where we are at. We're making progress in the area and will continue to work with industry to ensure that we're addressing their concerns.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Thank you, Madam Minister.

Mr. Uppal.

[Tim Uppal, Conservative, Edmonton—Sherwood Park, AB]

Thank you, Minister, for taking the time to be here with our committee.

Approximately 7,500 laboratories across Canada conduct research dealing with human pathogens and toxins. Currently, the Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines are mandatory for only 3,500 laboratories that import human pathogens and as such are subject to the human pathogens importation regulations regime. For the remaining 4,000 laboratories, which use only domestically acquired pathogens, the Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines serve as a guide but are not mandatory.

Minister, what is being done to increase and ensure laboratory safety in Canada and to standardize Canadian biosafety guidelines?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Nunavut, NU]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

First, I'd like to say that the Human Pathogens and Toxins Act will ensure a more secure environment for handling pathogens and toxins for Canadian research. I'm introducing a bill that will strengthen safe handling practices for most dangerous pathogens and toxins. It will also balance the requirements for biosafety and biosecurity with strengthening scientific research in Canada. I'm proud that legislation will be introduced that reflects what government has heard from our partners, and we'll continue working together in order to safeguard the health of Canadians.

The Government of Canada is moving forward to fill the significant gaps in the safety and security of that area, as I mentioned before. Currently, only facilities that import human pathogens and toxins must follow the Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines, while non-importing facilities only operate under voluntary guidelines. Canada also requires improved security regarding these agents. The Human Pathogens and Toxins Act will address both these gaps to mitigate the potential risk posed by the inadvertent or deliberate release of dangerous human pathogens and toxins.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joy Smith]

Thank you, Madam Minister.

Ms. Davidson.

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

Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

Thank you very much, Minister, for appearing before us today.

I have a quick question on health human resources. We know that in Canada we've been experiencing shortages in the human resources area, and we know that internationally trained physicians and professionals are experiencing challenges in having qualifications recognized. I also noted in your address to us earlier that in your time as health minister in Nunavut you had developed a long-term health human resources strategy. Could you elaborate a bit on that? Are there things there that you could bring to the table to help us federally, as well as you did in the territory?