I've made it my mission in life that whenever anybody says health care is provincial jurisdiction, I must intercede. The Constitution does not even mention the words “health care” and does not give it to either the provinces or the federal government. In fact, the Supreme Court of Canada has said the following:
In sum, “health” is not a matter which is subject to specific constitutional assignment but instead is an amorphous topic which can be addressed by valid federal or provincial legislation, depending in the circumstances of each case on the nature or scope of the health problem in question.
The only thing given to the provinces is the establishment and maintenance of hospitals. Of course, in 1967 we didn't even have universal health care.
The reason I point that out is I want to drill into something. It sounds to me that, as Ms. Silas said, we have to develop our homegrown talent here. That means more seats. It means more seats in nursing schools, medical schools, for technicians—everything.
Would the witnesses support a federal fund that was targeted to the provinces specifically for the purpose of expanding seats in professions? The province could determine where the scarcity is, but I'm referring to tied funding in that regard. I know that some people refuse any kind of tied aid from the federal government; I don't.
Is that one way to get more seats in these schools to create the bodies we need?