Evidence of meeting #8 for Health in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was system.
A recording is available from Parliament.
6:10 p.m.
Liberal
Adam van Koeverden Liberal Milton, ON
Thank you very much.
I wouldn't mind building off of that a bit and reference that so much of your membership has been targeted in protests and in violent ways. I'm grateful to see that our new law in place to protect health care workers from on-site protests and that violence has had—
6:10 p.m.
President, Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions
With all due respect, we have to get the police to enforce it. Dr. Smart and I were there when Minister Lametti introduced it and we were very proud. It was a big success, but look at what has happened in Ottawa and other regions. The police haven't even read the act yet, so we need to enforce it. It can't just be an act written on beautiful paper. It has to be enforced.
I'm sorry to interrupt.
6:10 p.m.
Liberal
Adam van Koeverden Liberal Milton, ON
No, it's encouraged. I'm really grateful for that, and I couldn't agree more that a law that's not enforced is certainly not helpful, and we've seen only a few examples of it being enforced in Ontario.
I'd like to touch on “strings attached”. It's a commonly used term now. This is for anybody who feels strongly about this issue. It's probably our last chance to hear from anybody.
I know that challenges are different across the country. We're a federation, and various jurisdictions experience different challenges.
When considering how to invest and partner up with various jurisdictions, provinces and territories, what types of strings should the federal government consider in those partnerships with provinces and territories?
6:10 p.m.
President, Canadian Medical Association
I could comment on that. Thanks for the question.
From the CMA's perspective, what we would like to see is that the dollars used by the federal government to motivate action at the provincial level are really targeting what we see as the biggest issues facing the health care system. For us those are clearly backlogs and catching up on surgery and diagnostic imaging, as we've heard about; commitments to ensure that all Canadians have access to primary care, which is foundational in our system; and also cost savings in the long term when people have a longitudinal care provider. We know that long-term care needs to be seriously addressed as does mental health.
We would like to see strings attached to targeted funding to make sure that those four priority areas are actually addressed and that we move the dial in terms of quality and access in those domains.
6:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
Thank you, Dr. Smart.
Thank you, Mr. van Koeverden.
Colleagues, we've reached the appointed hour, so, first of all to our witnesses, thank you so much for being with us. Thanks for sticking it out while we were exercising our democratic duty and delaying the commencement of the meeting.
Thank you so much for the last two years and for what you and your members have done and for the research that has been presented today. This has been an excellent and informative session. We're extremely grateful to you for your leadership in your respective professions and for the patient and insightful way that you handled the questions today. It will be of great value to us in doing our work and making recommendations to the government, so thank you so much.
Colleagues, before we wrap, there are a couple of housekeeping items. We'll see each other again on Monday, February 28 to hear from the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Auditor General on our COVID study before we hear from more witnesses on this particular study on March 2.
I remind everyone that any supplemental witness lists for this study are to be submitted to the clerk by end of day tomorrow.
Supplemental lists for the COVID study are due by five o'clock on March 3.
Is it the will of the committee to adjourn the meeting?
6:10 p.m.
Some hon. members
Agreed.
6:10 p.m.
Liberal