Health Committee on Feb. 5th, 2026

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

I'm wondering whether it's intentional that you’re not understanding.

[The Hon. Marjorie Michel, Liberal, Marjorie Michel]

No, but honestly, I don’t know.

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

You don’t understand it. Is that what you’re saying?

[The Hon. Marjorie Michel, Liberal, Marjorie Michel]

Are you talking about people who had been pre‑approved and who did not receive the services?

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

Yes, they started receiving treatments and, eventually, they were denied. Other people had not yet received treatments. We're talking about 200,000 people.

This situation doesn't ring any bells. Is that what you’re saying? Am I the one informing you of this?

[The Hon. Marjorie Michel, Liberal, Marjorie Michel]

No, I know that there were people who had received pre‑approvals and were told afterward that they no longer qualified for the program. That refusal was related to their income. That’s the situation.

You’re telling me about people who have had their teeth removed and so on.

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

I’m giving an example. You also like to give examples, when you talk about your field visits, right? I find that important.

At least, I’m explaining to you what people are telling me.

[The Hon. Marjorie Michel, Liberal, Marjorie Michel]

Again, I would say that I have done a lot of field visits, and people didn’t mention that to me.

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

Health Canada doesn’t know today how many people have been pre-approved and subsequently denied.

Do you know or not?

[Shalene Curtis-Micallef]

I don’t have the figures in front of me.

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

Can you respond to us in writing?

[Shalene Curtis-Micallef]

We could respond to you in writing, but I’d say to—

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

You are the one promoting your dental care system right now, but you are unaware of its flaws.

I don’t expect it to be perfect, but right now, it seems like you don’t know what we’re talking about. I’m telling you that—

[The Hon. Marjorie Michel, Liberal, Marjorie Michel]

I know exactly what you're talking about, but I’m telling you that I'm not sure about the 200,000 people. I don’t know the number. I know there have been cases, but what you need to understand is that this program is also linked—

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

Minister—

[The Hon. Marjorie Michel, Liberal, Marjorie Michel]

Hold on. Let me speak.

We provide a dental care program through dentists—

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

The time is now up. I'm sorry.

Minister, I will let you answer, but the time is up.

[The Hon. Marjorie Michel, Liberal, Marjorie Michel]

—but the approval is tied to the person's income.

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

Okay, but it’s Health Canada that manages the program, right?

[The Hon. Marjorie Michel, Liberal, Marjorie Michel]

It’s not us, the approval based on income, no.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Thank you.

Ms. Konanz, it is your turn. You have five minutes, please.

[Helena Konanz, Conservative, Similkameen—South Okanagan—West Kootenay, BC]

Thank you, Chair.

I have some questions for the minister. I'm following up on my colleague Mr. Mazier's questions about drug consumption sites.

I know that Canadians are concerned about your department's approving supervised drug consumption sites across the country. Your department approved a consumption site in Kelowna, up the highway from my riding, that's only 60 metres from a day care, from children.

Would you listen to parents and agree with me that no supervised drug consumption sites should be opened that are close to a day care or young schoolchildren?

[The Hon. Marjorie Michel, Liberal, Marjorie Michel]

As I already told your colleague, we work according to the standards set by the provinces and municipalities.

Now, when Health Canada receives a request—

[Helena Konanz, Conservative, Similkameen—South Okanagan—West Kootenay, BC]

I heard that. You did answer my colleague. Thank you for that.

I'm asking you if you believe it's safe for children to be near a drug consumption site. You have the power. Is it safe?

[Marjorie Michel, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

I have the power.