Health Committee on Dec. 12th, 2024

Evidence of meeting #146 for Health in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was you're.

A video is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Women's Health

Subject Matter of Supplementary Estimates (B), 2024-25: Votes 1b and 5b under Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Votes 1b and 5b under Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Votes 1b, 5b and 10b under Department of Health, Votes 1b, 5b and 10b under Public Health Agency of Canada

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Clerk of the Committee Ms. Catherine Ngando Edimo

Eric Costen Associate Deputy Minister, Department of Health

Heather Jeffrey President, Public Health Agency of Canada

Celia Lourenco Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Health Products and Food Branch, Department of Health

Jocelyne Voisin Assistant Deputy Minister, Health Policy Branch, Department of Health

4:10 p.m.

Conservative

Stephen Ellis Conservative Cumberland—Colchester, NS

It's very interesting, Minister, that you refuse to answer any of the questions, because that's why we invited you here. It was to attempt to get some answers, which obviously you refuse to provide.

Minister, what about when we look at the wait times in this country? Maybe this is easier for you. Can you talk about the recent report released by the Fraser Institute that talks about the longest wait times for care in the history of this country, which has happened, sadly but not surprisingly, under your watch?

4:10 p.m.

Liberal

Mark Holland Liberal Ajax, ON

You also know, of course, that responsibility is shared with the provinces, but the CIHI report, an independent report, showed progress in all of those metrics.

Let me come back to it. Talk about sugar. You're against giving people diabetes medication, so are you going to talk about what we're doing on sugar when you're against diabetes medication? Are you going to criticize us on sugar in somebody's mouth when you're against dental care? Sir, are you a physician? If you are a physician, what would you do about people's oral health, other than cut their dental care?

4:10 p.m.

Conservative

Stephen Ellis Conservative Cumberland—Colchester, NS

In talking about sugar, Minister, you're laughable. Your answers are quite hilarious. On behalf of Canadians, I think it's absolutely shameful that you do not understand how things work. Do you want to give them diabetes medications because you want to give them more sugar? For shame.

4:10 p.m.

Liberal

Sonia Sidhu Liberal Brampton South, ON

I have a point of order.

4:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

That's your time.

I have a point of order from Ms. Sidhu.

4:10 p.m.

Liberal

Sonia Sidhu Liberal Brampton South, ON

Let's be respectful to each other. That's what I want to request. Thank you.

December 12th, 2024 / 4:10 p.m.

Conservative

Todd Doherty Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC

Respect is earned.

4:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

Yes, it certainly is.

All right. That's it for Dr. Ellis.

Next we're over to Dr. Hanley, please, for six minutes.

4:10 p.m.

Liberal

Brendan Hanley Liberal Yukon, YT

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I just want to check that I'm being heard okay. Is my sound okay?

4:10 p.m.

The Clerk of the Committee Ms. Catherine Ngando Edimo

Yes...hold on a minute.

No, the sound is not good. Can you move your microphone a little bit?

4:10 p.m.

Liberal

Brendan Hanley Liberal Yukon, YT

Okay, can I check? How is this? Is this any better?

4:10 p.m.

The Clerk

Can you keep talking?

4:10 p.m.

Liberal

Brendan Hanley Liberal Yukon, YT

I'll just keep talking. You can stop me if I'm not being heard.

I appreciate your presence, Minister Holland.

Right off the top, I want to say that I have agreed to share my time with Mr. Morrice, who is standing by.

4:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

Dr. Hanley, we don't have the go-ahead on your sound yet. What you're undergoing right now, even though you don't realize it, is a sound check.

4:15 p.m.

Liberal

Brendan Hanley Liberal Yukon, YT

Oh, I see. Then should I be talking about the weather?

4:15 p.m.

The Clerk

Yes, you can talk about the weather, please.

4:15 p.m.

Liberal

Brendan Hanley Liberal Yukon, YT

The weather is mild, and there's perhaps a little bit of rain in the clouds. I'm hoping that this is going to work for sound quality purposes. Do I have the go-ahead?

4:15 p.m.

The Clerk

I think there's an echo. Hold on.

4:15 p.m.

Liberal

Brendan Hanley Liberal Yukon, YT

Am I to keep talking? I'm not quite sure what to do. I'm sorry; I apologize.

4:15 p.m.

The Clerk

Yes, please keep talking.

4:15 p.m.

Liberal

Brendan Hanley Liberal Yukon, YT

Okay, I will keep talking. I just want to ensure that I have a chance to ask my questions today of the minister, so I hope that you hear me adequately. I have my headset connected.

4:15 p.m.

The Clerk

Our IT guy is going to call you, because the connection is poor too.

4:15 p.m.

Liberal

Brendan Hanley Liberal Yukon, YT

Okay. I'll defer for now. I wonder if Mr. Morrice can—

4:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

We're going to go to the next Liberal. We'll come back to you with the next Liberal slot. Hopefully the problems will be resolved. We're trying to respect everyone's time here.

We have Ms. Sidhu, please, for six minutes.

4:15 p.m.

Liberal

Sonia Sidhu Liberal Brampton South, ON

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister, and all the officials for being with us today. My question is to the minister.

In your opening remarks, you talked about the Pharmacare Act providing universal coverage for a range of contraception and diabetes medication and devices.

Could you tell us more about the importance of this measure and why it's not included in the supplementary estimates?