Health Committee on Dec. 12th, 2024

[Stephen Ellis, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

Thanks very much, Ms. Jeffrey.

Could you undertake to provide the committee with a list of the items that are in the stockpile and the amounts? I think that would be important for Canadians to know. For instance, are there N95 masks, cots and blankets? What are the numbers? That would be important for Canadians to know, so, as I said, if you could undertake to provide that to the committee, I think that would make sense.

We've come back previously to this promise from the NDP-Liberal government on the Canada mental health transfer.

Mr. Costen, if I recall correctly, back when I came here in 2021, the amount was $4.5 billion. Can you tell Canadians how much of that $4.5 billion has been allocated to mental health care?

[Eric Costen]

I couldn't, off the top of my head, but I'd be very happy to return with that figure in writing.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Thank you, Mr. Costen.

[Stephen Ellis, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

That would be great. Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Thank you, Dr. Ellis.

Next we have Ms. Kayabaga for five minutes, please.

[Arielle Kayabaga, Liberal, London West, ON]

Thank you, Chair.

I would also like to welcome our witnesses and thank them for being here today.

This week marked a year since the launch of the Canadian dental care plan that has helped over 1.2 million Canadians to access dental care.

Could we get a breakdown of how many dental care providers are accepting the CDCP patients and an update and comments on how the transition has been so far?

[Eric Costen]

I certainly can provide a bit of precision on some of the figures that I believe Minister Holland noted in his commentary.

To date, we have over 23,000—to be exact, 23,010—providers who have made at least one claim. Based on our estimates, that accounts for about 93.5% of all eligible providers.

In terms of a commentary with regard to how the transition has gone, I think that there was a very good discussion earlier about the latest phase. There we've encountered some difficulties with respect to pre-authorization, and we're working through those on a priority basis.

Prior to that, I think we were feeling reasonably good about the manner in which the program has been stood up and implemented and services have been provided. There's been active outreach to providers, including to those who work in their offices and frankly have to do a lot of the hard work with respect to administering and filing forms, which is where the rubber meets the road with respect to the application of the program. I think that has paid off.

We're all very aware that at the outset, there was a lot of nervousness and concern that the administrative process would be overwhelming and difficult. Over time, through engagement and other types of very dedicated undertakings, we've managed to work through that quite successfully, and we remain confident that as we continue to implement it through phases, while there may be some bumps in the road, as they say, we will certainly endeavour to continue to make the transition as successful as it can be.

[Arielle Kayabaga, Liberal, London West, ON]

Through you, Chair, I think that, in January, the plan is going to be accessible to a larger number of Canadians in different age categories as well. When that happens, what is the plan to ensure that current employers who provide the coverage for these Canadians are not going to opt out for the sake of putting them...? The purpose of the plan is to reach the people who need it most. How are we going to make sure that the people who need it most are the ones who are accessing it?

[Eric Costen]

Our strategy will continue to be the one that we've adopted over the past year, which is proactive outreach and dedicated communications in order to raise awareness and to ensure that those who are eligible are aware of the program and are assisted to access it, in every possible way, so that we can ensure that there's broad awareness and good uptake.

We'll certainly do everything we can in working with Sun Life to ensure that the process is as smooth and as accessible as it can be.

[Arielle Kayabaga, Liberal, London West, ON]

What are some of the measures that you have in place to work with current employers who cover Canadians who fall into the category of the income targets that we have, to make sure that they continue to cover them?

Again, the program is for Canadians who do not have coverage, not ones who have coverage. However, if there are no measures set in place to ensure that employers are not just going to withdraw their coverage from employees, we're going to have.... I assume that this would overwhelm the plan. Can you comment on that?

[Eric Costen]

I guess I would make two comments. As a part of the department's outreach, I can commit that we will certainly be working with employers and major employer groups to ensure that there's broad awareness, particularly for lower-income Canadians.

I might want to also offer a clarification. In your earlier question, I believe that you noted January as being the date. I don't believe that a date has been set or publicly committed to. I just wanted to make that clarification.

However, absolutely, we will be working carefully with major employers to make sure that their employees are well aware of the services that would be available to them through the CDCP.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Thank you—

[Arielle Kayabaga, Liberal, London West, ON]

I'm sorry, Chair, but I just want to say sorry for the date. It's not that it was given to me by any official or anyone. It was just from a conversation I had with dental caregivers in my riding. Thanks.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Thank you, Ms. Kayabaga.

Mr. Thériault, you now have the floor for five minutes.

[Luc Thériault, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

Rigorous management of a new program does not justify mediocrity. The minister's answers showed me that Sun Life must be pretty happy right now. The answers the professionals received were unacceptable.

I'd now like to talk about another topic. They're now using a QR code for cannabis products. Why couldn't we use a QR code for natural health products?

[Dr. Celia Lourenco, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Health Products and Food Branch, Department of Health]

Mr. Chair, I thank the member for his question.

We're working on it, together with the industry. We will be holding meetings to discuss potential solutions, including the use of a QR code for natural health products.

[Luc Thériault, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

That answer is similar to the one I've already been given.

To be clear, does this mean that we are looking at the possibility of using a QR code for natural health products while meeting Health Canada's expectations and those of the industry?

[Dr. Celia Lourenco]

What I can say is that technological solutions such as a QR code will be included in the discussions we're going to have with the industry over the coming weeks or months.

[Luc Thériault, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

Sun Life's administrative costs are almost $2 billion.

Can we see that contract? Was it submitted somewhere, for example to Public Services and Procurement Canada?

Given the current situation, it's not worth $2 billion. People were told that they would be able to access the support as of November 1. Here we are on December 12, but they still don't have access to it. We are told that it is random. There are denturists who spend a lot of money on dental impressions.

Can we look at the contract and what it says about failures like that?

[Eric Costen]

Thank you for your question.

Allow me to answer in English.

I think I can speak generally about the terms of the agreement with Sun Life, but I'm not in a position where I'd be able to disclose the contract, and I think—

[Stephen Ellis, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

I have a point of order, Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Go ahead on a point of order, Dr. Ellis.

[Stephen Ellis, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

Perhaps I'm mistaken, but my understanding of the rules is that if we demand the contract here, certainly, as parliamentarians, we are allowed to see those documents. We've been through this before. It's been difficult.

If Mr. Thériault wants to see the Sun Life contract, I think that's his privilege as well as that of this committee.

I'm going to support the motion for us to see the Sun Life contract.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Mr. Thériault hasn't actually asked for it yet, but if he does, we'll deal with that when the time comes.

Mr. Thériault, you have the floor.

[Luc Thériault, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

Mr. Chair, I asked if the committee could get the contract, and we were told that they could talk to us about it in general terms.

I want to know what's in that contract, so I want to get a copy of it.