Health Committee on Feb. 5th, 2026

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

You know that the federal government is not involved in the delivery of health services.

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

Yes, that’s correct. However, allow me to remind you that the initial agreement between Canada and Quebec and the provinces was that the federal government would cover 50% of health care costs. Currently, you’re paying 22%.

Do you understand that this imbalance and this shortfall have consequences, particularly on the health care services that can be offered in the regions of Quebec?

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

As I told my colleague, I work closely with my colleagues from the provinces and territories on all health-related issues. We’re all here to see how we can do better for the health of Canadians.

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

You say your government believes in science. I’m on the Standing Committee on Science and Research, and we heard from the chief science adviser on November 26. I asked her a question about your Bill C‑5, a bill concerning projects of national interest. She told us that she had not been consulted concerning the list of projects that your government has established.

For a government that believes in science, how is it that you don’t consult your own chief science adviser before stating which projects are in the national interest? Explain that to me. You don't know, right?

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

I’m not going to make a statement about something when I don’t know what you're talking about.

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

Science is important, but only when reading speeches and testifying before committees.

Do you know what the science adviser told us, Minister? She told us it was a nightmare that your government created a law to bypass all laws, except the Criminal Code, for three years, in order to push through your projects of national interest.

I’d like you to tell us, as the Minister of Health, if you are concerned about this abuse of power and the fact that it could have consequences on people’s health, when the evidence and scientific analyses from your own government are not even consulted, or are ignored.

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

I don’t even understand what you’re saying. Honestly, all our decisions are based on science. I don’t understand what you're referring to.

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

I invite you to consult the evidence given by Canada’s chief science adviser, Mona Nemer, when she appeared before the Standing Committee on Science and Research on November 26. She told us what I just mentioned to you. You're telling me that—

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

I’m going to read the evidence because, honestly, I’m—

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

Do you have an opinion on that?

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

No.

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

Does it not bother you that your government doesn’t consult the chief science adviser, when you’re telling me today that your government believes in science?

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Thank you, Mr. Blanchette-Joncas. Your time is up.

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

I told you I’m going to read the evidence.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

You've gone over the time. I'm sorry.

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

Madam Chair, I will request a written response because it is difficult to get a verbal response.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

All right. The minister is aware, and we will send that answer to the clerk and pass it on to everybody.

Now I will go to the second round. It's a five-minute round.

Mr. Bailey, for the Conservatives, you have five minutes, please.

[Burton Bailey, Conservative, Red Deer, AB]

Thank you, Chair.

Minister, on October 13, the immigration department made a social media post to promote Canadians' public health care system for people interested in coming to Canada. I realize that this post came from IRCC, but the reason I bring it up is that the committee received a written response from the immigration department confirming that the post was not shared with their minister for approval.

My question is for you, as the Minister of Health. Were you aware that the immigration department would be advertising to foreigners and inviting them to come to Canada to use our public health system? Are you aware of this post?

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

No.

[Burton Bailey, Conservative, Red Deer, AB]

If you weren't aware, should the health department not be informed if other departments in the government are intruding on your jurisdiction and taking the liberty of advertising our health care system without the health department's knowledge? Were our departments not in communication with each other? Was anyone aware?

[Shalene Curtis-Micallef]

I don't have specific information with respect to what information the Department of Health was aware of. We can take it back and see. I don't know what consultations were made.

[Burton Bailey, Conservative, Red Deer, AB]

Obviously, nobody's been disciplined for this, for putting non-Canadian health care before Canadians and literally advertising this to non-Canadian citizens. At a time when 6.5 million Canadians are without family doctors and when wait times for health care are skyrocketing, do you think it is appropriate that the immigration department is advertising to foreigners that Canadian public health care is open to them?

[Shalene Curtis-Micallef]

I haven't seen the advertisement, so I can't comment on an advertisement I haven't seen. However, we will definitely look at the advertisement that you're referring to and get back to you.

[Burton Bailey, Conservative, Red Deer, AB]

Well, the question is for the minister: Will you commit today that your government will no longer advertise our health care system to the rest of the world while Canadians are struggling with health care access?

[Marjorie Michel, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

I didn't advertise, and I will not start advertising in any way.

We didn’t do any advertising. It doesn't come from me or the Department of Health. I can tell you that, no, I don’t intend to advertise.