Health Committee on Dec. 12th, 2024

[Luc Thériault, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

The program worked very well for processing requests for full implants. When partial hearing aid requests started, everything went off the rails. There's a problem.

[Mark Holland, Liberal, Ajax, ON]

It's only been two weeks since the pre-approval was [ Inaudible—Editor ].

[Luc Thériault, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

Why do people say that requests are randomly accepted? You need to get answers on that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Mr. Thériault, your time is up.

Give the minister a chance to answer your last question, please.

[Mark Holland, Liberal, Ajax, ON]

The pre-approval is the most complex part. Compliance must be ensured before federal funds are spent. I'm sure the situation will be resolved, but it's still essential, in such a complex situation, to ensure that the system works well.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Thank you, Minister and Mr. Thériault.

Mr. Julian, you have the floor for six minutes.

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I'm going to continue along the same lines as Mr. Thériault.

First of all, we know that Quebec is where the program is the most popular in the country.

How many Quebeckers are now signing up for the dental care program that the NDP pushed so hard to get passed? How many Quebeckers have already received help or surgeries through the program? How many applications are backlogged?

Mr. Thériault is asking a legitimate question in that this issue needs to be resolved. How many files are backlogged?

[Mark Holland, Liberal, Ajax, ON]

Thank you for your question.

First, 500,000 people in Quebec have been approved to receive services. That's huge. There are 1.2 million people enrolled in the program.

Second, in the vast majority of cases, pre-approval is not required. In those cases, there is no problem.

Cases that require pre-approval are rarer, but they led to problems in the first two weeks. However, I'm sure it will be restored very soon.

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

I'll continue with the officials later.

I'm going to switch to English now.

The reality is that I'm a little surprised by the questions from the official opposition. There is no doubt that this is one of the most popular new federal programs in decades.

Just from a count and from what you've said, Minister, 3,700 Canadians on average in each and every Conservative riding in the country, including Mr. Doherty's and Dr. Ellis's, have received dental care. What the NDP has fought for in terms of pharmacare means about 17,000 of their constituents. It's a bit strange to me to see Conservatives threatening to kill programs that help thousands of their constituents. I don't understand that.

That's a comment I wanted to express.

In terms of where dental care goes from now, I stress that it's really important to extend it beyond seniors, children and people with disabilities to others who meet the family income threshold.

When can we expect the government to look at coverage for seniors who have existing dental programs that are very poor? That's a question that comes up from my constituents regularly.

Also, when do you expect to address the issue of Canadians who are denied dental care because they have a non-resident spouse? That's an issue that has come up as well.

In terms of the average response time for pre-approval for dentures, I would like to know what the existing response time is in addition to the problem that Mr. Thériault raised.

Thank you.

[Mark Holland, Liberal, Ajax, ON]

Thank you so much.

In the first order, three million people have signed up, and already one and a quarter million people are getting care. The demand is absolutely massive, and I think we're going to be able to demonstrate in evidence not only what that means to people's dignity but also what that means in terms of better health outcomes and, frankly, saving money because they don't wind up in emergency rooms with much more serious cases.

We do have a lot of people left to go. Almost every single senior who's eligible has signed up for this program, but you're right about the additional cohorts. What I always said was that this was going to be a very big lift. Pre-authorization is extremely complex, which is one of the reasons I said that we didn't want to advance the new cohorts until we got the pre-authorization piece right. This was anticipated. Working through these issues, I think, is critical.

It's less a question of how long it's taking. What's happening with the rejected claims is that either information isn't being attached or there's a misunderstanding of what's required.

If you can imagine, this is very expensive and we have to be able to demonstrate that there's integrity built around the system. By its nature, it's not just automatically approved, because it's quite complicated work. It's not that it's taking a lot of time; it's that there were pieces missing, and people not understanding what they need to attach is the problem.

That's why I think we can work through that pretty carefully—

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

My question was about the average response time, if you have that or if officials have that.

[Mark Holland, Liberal, Ajax, ON]

I'll get back to you on that. It's less of an issue, but certainly I will get it for you.

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

Okay.

In terms of the issues of Canadians with a non-resident spouse who would otherwise qualify for this program that has been so popular....

[Mark Holland, Liberal, Ajax, ON]

I think both of your points are very fair. You mentioned seniors who have poor service on another plan and you mentioned folks who were denied because of a non-resident spouse.

These are issues that would require, obviously, additional policy coverage, which would probably require legislation. That's something I would have to talk to you about with your House leader's hat on and talk with both sides about what's in the realm of the possible for us to be able to fix some of the gaps that I acknowledge exist today.

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

I have only a few seconds left.

I'll move on to pharmacare, which is hugely important for people who pay $1,000 or $1,500 a month for their diabetes medication and devices. Nobody should oppose pharmacare.

When do you see the first provinces signing on? When do you see actually being able to provide those supports to people right across the country, including 17,000 people, on average, in each and every Conservative riding?

[Mark Holland, Liberal, Ajax, ON]

Yes, you bet.

It came out of the Senate on October 5, so there are a lot of details to chew through, but very early in the new year I expect to see the first agreement signed. I think you can look at the MOU with B.C. to get a flavour for what those would look like. They use the existing infrastructure of provinces, so I think we can get medicine to people very quickly.

As I said, I'm deeply encouraged that a jurisdiction like Alberta.... As I said, last week I was in Alberta announcing our plan for drugs for rare diseases. Alberta was saying that it's very interested in signing this and finding a solution. Adriana, their health minister, believes it can be done. I think if we can do it in Alberta, we can do it everywhere, and I believe we will.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Thank you, Minister. Thank you, Mr. Julian.

Next is Mr. Doherty, please, for five minutes.

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Minister, is everything good? Are you okay?

[Mark Holland, Liberal, Ajax, ON]

Yes, sir. How are you?

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

I'm good. I'm right as rain. You just seemed to be a little bit on edge a little earlier on.

Are you familiar with “Waiting Your Turn: Wait Times for Health Care in Canada”, the report that was issued today?

[Mark Holland, Liberal, Ajax, ON]

I'm aware of it. I haven't had a chance to look at it—

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

It's interesting because, Minister, the report reveals that out of 30 developed countries, Canada is ranked 28th in availability of doctors, 25th in hospital beds, 25th for psychiatric beds, 27th for MRI machines and 28th for CT scanners.

That's your record.

[Mark Holland, Liberal, Ajax, ON]

I love how you don't hold Ford or any other government accountable for provincial health care.

Health care is administered provincially. I'm not sure if you're aware of that, but we do try to—

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Minister, I'm being respectful. You don't have to be disrespectful.

[Mark Holland, Liberal, Ajax, ON]

No, that wasn't respectful. You just said that something that's under provincial jurisdiction is our responsibility. That's not respectful.