Evidence of meeting #27 for Health in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was million.
A video is available from Parliament.
6:10 p.m.
Liberal
June 15th, 2022 / 6:10 p.m.
Liberal
Élisabeth Brière Liberal Sherbrooke, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I thank the minister and all the witnesses for being with us this afternoon.
Minister, you mentioned in your remarks that the development of national standards for mental health and substance use services is a key component of your mandate. Can you expand on why this is so important for you?
6:10 p.m.
Liberal
Carolyn Bennett Liberal Toronto—St. Paul's, ON
Thank you. I'm also happy to talk to my colleague, Monsieur Garon, about this.
What happened was the provinces and territories came together on what they called a common statement of priorities that were their six priorities: integrated youth services, primary care with mental health, digital health, substance use treatment, substance use human resources and integrated care for people with complex problems. Now the Standards Council of Canada is working with all the stakeholders to work on those things that the provinces and territories have identified as their priorities, but, as we get out across the country, there are many other things we're hearing, like appropriate detox and withdrawal and the standards that exist.
Whatever province you're in—for example, Monsieur Garon, in Quebec—it's the same treatment for blood pressure or for cancer. For mental health, there haven't been those kinds of standards. That's why people want those kinds of practice guidelines on those kinds of things, like perinatal mental care. What should people be able to expect wherever they live in Canada? How do we build that into a plan and then build the transfer on that?
6:10 p.m.
Liberal
Élisabeth Brière Liberal Sherbrooke, QC
Thank you.
What specific areas will the standards for mental health and substance use deal with? How will these national standards be set, then?
6:10 p.m.
Liberal
Carolyn Bennett Liberal Toronto—St. Paul's, ON
I mentioned the other ones, but the one I'm most excited about, Élisabeth, is integrated youth services. It's being led by Quebec and Ontario, mainly building on what was started in British Columbia by Dr. Steve Mathias in the Foundry.
Integrated youth services means wraparound service. The young person can get peer counselling, primary care, social work, addictions counselling, help with housing, help with education and help finding a job. These integrated youth services are now signed onto by 11 of the provinces and territories. I think that we will be able to show not only the benefit to young people but also the economic benefit to having these kinds of integrated services coast to coast to coast. It's a hugely exciting movement across the country.
6:10 p.m.
Liberal
Élisabeth Brière Liberal Sherbrooke, QC
Budget 2021 provided $45 million in funding for the development of standards. How is this funding being allocated?
6:10 p.m.
Liberal
Carolyn Bennett Liberal Toronto—St. Paul's, ON
The Standards Council of Canada is not the expertise body. Where there's been an identified need for a standard, then it uses dollars to get out to talk to the people on the front lines, to talk to the organizations, to talk to the people with lived and living experience and to come together with what really would be, as we say, the most appropriate care in the most appropriate place by the most appropriate provider at the most appropriate time. What should that standard of care and quality be?
6:10 p.m.
Liberal
Élisabeth Brière Liberal Sherbrooke, QC
Now to the opioid crisis, can you tell us what your discussion was with the Province of British Columbia? Where are you at now in fighting that important crisis?
6:10 p.m.
Liberal
Carolyn Bennett Liberal Toronto—St. Paul's, ON
Thank you.
What's exciting about working with British Columbia now is that it has put together a table for research and evaluation on this project. Out of that table, we will together be developing the indicators, both on public health and on public safety, to demonstrate what works, the efficacy of the exemption and that it remains in the public interest. If we have to adapt, then we will adapt. That's the work we're doing now, from now until January 31, on what the process will be.
Canada is setting up an arm's-length process with CIHR, not only to work with British Columbia but also to use the learning in real time so that we can help other jurisdictions have a much more rapid approach to a successful application.
6:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
Thank you, Madame Brière.
Mr. Garon, you have the floor for two and a half minutes.
6:15 p.m.
Bloc
Jean-Denis Garon Bloc Mirabel, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Minister, I understand that you were very surprised by a colleague's question, but I want to remind you that just because the provinces have outlined six health priorities, which are common to all of them, does not mean that they have asked you for funding conditions. You should stop saying that, because it is absolutely false.
I'd like to turn now to Bill C‑5, which provides alternative measures for people with addiction problems. The witnesses who came to speak during the studies on this bill told us that they lacked the resources to receive and support people in distress because of their addiction. In Quebec, this money is normally distributed through the Canada-Quebec Contribution Agreement on the Substance Use and Dependency Program. It is important to recognize Quebec's areas of jurisdiction. We must often remember that asymmetrical federalism exists, out of necessity.
At this time, concretely, where are you in your negotiations with the province of Quebec to receive its share of these funds?
6:15 p.m.
Liberal
Carolyn Bennett Liberal Toronto—St. Paul's, ON
The bilateral agreement with the province of Quebec also allows for programs, projects—
6:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
Mr. Garon, you asked a question that lasted one minute, and you interrupted the minister after 20 seconds.
6:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
The minister has the right to take the same amount of time to answer the question as the time taken to ask it.
Madam Minister, you have the floor.
6:15 p.m.
Liberal
Carolyn Bennett Liberal Toronto—St. Paul's, ON
The bilateral agreement with Quebec is not just about the $5 billion invested in the provinces and territories for mental health. It is also about the implementation of projects in communities, for example, projects dealing with substance use and innovation projects, such as those undertaken in Ms. Brière's constituency. It is the province or the National Institute of Public Health that decides on the projects. The priorities are set by the provinces. In other provinces—
6:15 p.m.
Liberal
Carolyn Bennett Liberal Toronto—St. Paul's, ON
—it's not necessarily the same priorities. It's possible, in Canada—
6:15 p.m.
Liberal
Carolyn Bennett Liberal Toronto—St. Paul's, ON
—to decide which projects the funds will be allocated to.
6:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
You may ask one brief question, Mr. Garon.
I would also ask the minister to answer briefly.
6:15 p.m.
Bloc
Jean-Denis Garon Bloc Mirabel, QC
Mr. Chair, as the minister did not answer my question, I'll ask it again.
With respect to the $100 million over five years announced in the budget, what is the status of your negotiations with the province of Quebec regarding the payment of its share through the Canada-Quebec Contribution Agreement for the Substance Use and Addictions Program?
This could not be more specific, Madam Minister. Where are you on the negotiations?
6:15 p.m.
Liberal
Carolyn Bennett Liberal Toronto—St. Paul's, ON
In terms of bilateral agreements, it's a transfer.
It's a strength.
6:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
Thank you. Your time is up.
Mr. Johns, you have two and a half minutes.
Go ahead, please.