Health Committee on Nov. 29th, 2022

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, Toronto—St. Paul's, ON]

Thank you.

It is heartbreaking. We are very grateful for your leadership on this. The debate that you and MP Hanley had earlier this year was hugely important in having all members of Parliament share that this isn't a “they” problem anymore. This is a “we” problem. We all know way too many people affected by this crisis.

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

And we all know we need more resources, too.

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, Toronto—St. Paul's, ON]

I think the $116 million in last year's budget and another $100 million in this year's budget.... I mean, last week I was able to announce another 24 projects. We are signing these agreements as quickly as we can.

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

You're at 14%.

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, Toronto—St. Paul's, ON]

In the spring, with the Prime Minister, we were actually able to renew a number of these. We are working quickly on this. We are working with our partners to make sure that the innovation is taking place and that the kinds of substance use and addiction programs can be scaled and—

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

Minister, you said you'd go get the money. Are you going to go get the money?

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, Toronto—St. Paul's, ON]

We have the money getting out the door on the $116 million, we have the other $100 million, and we will get whatever more money we need.

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

What about the 86%?

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, Toronto—St. Paul's, ON]

We are working on it.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Mr. Johns, we're past time.

Next is Mrs. Goodridge, please, for five minutes.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thanks to the ministers for being here, and for all the departmental support

This is a really quick question for you, Minister Duclos: On what date did you first raise the issue about children's pain medication shortages with your department?

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Québec, QC]

If you want more details, the department can provide them. The department follows such situations on a daily basis.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

No, Minister, I asked you this: On what specific date did you first raise this with your department? I've asked your department. They've refused to give me an answer.

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Québec, QC]

As I just said, the department collects that data on a daily basis and comes to my office whenever that is useful.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Well, that's disappointing to a lot of parents who have been struggling with this for a long time. That is another non-answer.

Minister Bennett, let me switch gears here. The Canada mental health transfer was an election promise of $4.5 billion. When are we going to see that? We need this money desperately. We've heard tons of data. When are we going to see that money?

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, Toronto—St. Paul's, ON]

Thank you for the question.

I think what we are hearing is that having designated funds for mental health and substance use has really been important. It has been important from 2017, with the $5 billion that was there, and the provinces and territories are now getting an ongoing $600 million a year to 2027.

Now we're working with the provinces and territories on their six priorities so that we can develop the kinds of programs on integrated youth services, on additional—

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Thank you, Minister.

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, Toronto—St. Paul's, ON]

—mental health and primary care, on all kinds of things that will involve lateral agreements, but also the data return, so that we know that—

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

I appreciate it. I have a very limited amount of time. I'm asking for very succinct questions so I'm going to be asking and imposing on you that you answer very succinctly.

How much of that money has been allocated to the provinces today?

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, Toronto—St. Paul's, ON]

We now have the $5 billion allocated since 2017. It will continue until 2027, and $600 million a year is going now annually. We are working with the provinces and territories on the design of a program that will—

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

How much has been allocated directly to the Province of Alberta today?

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, Toronto—St. Paul's, ON]

The Province of Alberta is getting its share of the $600 million this year.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Can you please table with the committee how much of this money has actually been allocated to every single province across the country and the territories?

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, Toronto—St. Paul's, ON]

Right now in Alberta, for this year of 2021-22, Alberta is getting $69.81 million—

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

I didn't ask how much they're getting. I'm asking how much was allocated—