I think it's interesting that our colleague Mr. Julian takes the opportunity to slag the previous government when he's supported the Liberal government for the last nine years. We've seen an affordability crisis like we've never seen in generations. We have more Canadians visiting food banks under this government and under this coalition than ever before. We've seen more homeless encampments under this coalition than ever before, so it's a little rich for our colleague down the way—whom I respect—to stand there and use this as an opportunity to slag a government and slag any intentions that we put forth.
This is not a pharmacare bill. There are no illusions about that. Why are we lying to...? I won't say “we”. Why are they lying to Canadians? They're misleading Canadians, giving false hope that this is a pharmacare bill.
If the heart medication of his constituents that our colleague brings up was truly important to them, why is that not included in this version of this bill? It is simply a campaign brochure so that both parties—the coalition—can stand up and say, “This is what we've done for you.” It's 100% wedge issues, trying to paint the Conservatives and whoever else into a corner and twist themselves up. The simple fact is that they're misleading Canadians on this.
The writing's on the wall. We know what's going to happen. It'll be the Conservatives who are standing up for the truth and trying to make sure.... Look, if this bill is going to pass, why don't we just call it what it is? Why not be clear with Canadians?
It's bizarre to me that we sit here and.... You want to stand up, wave the flag, and trumpet that you've gotten pharmacare through, or a national dental program. It's not a dental program. Most dentists will not subscribe to that dental program because there's not enough information. They have no idea how it's going to work. It's great that our colleague down the way says that there are 100,000 seniors he knows of, or that they know of, in the first 22 days. That's amazing. However, the people I talked to and the dentists I talked to will not sign up for it because there's not enough information.
Therefore, there isn't a national dental care program, just as there will not be a national pharmacare program. It's because the work has not been done in advance to make sure that Canadians from coast to coast who currently have plans will be made whole. As for the Canadians who do not have a plan right now, what will they be getting?
It's very frustrating when we sit here and listen to the rhetoric that comes from some of our colleagues. When we're just having a normal conversation, they simply take every opportunity to slag a party that hasn't been in power for 10 years, yet they've been in a coalition for nine years now, and they have backed this government every step of the way. Through every scandal that this government has gone through, they have sided with them. It's deeply disappointing that the NDP has fallen so far and continues to back a government that is corrupt and on its way out.