Health Committee on Feb. 5th, 2026

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

In this period of economic uncertainty, any assistance the government can provide to the public is welcome. It’s true that we're providing a rebate for vulnerable individuals, but supply is also important. People need to have access to healthy food to nourish themselves.

In that respect, I made an economic announcement last week, on the north shore of Montreal, in Thérèse‑De Blainville. I visited a grocery store that sells affordable and healthy products for the community, and I met a mother there. She told me that she was happy about the announced measure, because she had two jobs and it would at least help her buy better products for her two children. This measure will really help families. It's to make groceries more affordable and encourage them to eat better.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

You have 30 seconds.

[Helena Jaczek, Liberal, Markham—Stouffville, ON]

I think I'll leave it at that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Are you fine? Okay. Thank you.

I will go to the Bloc Québécois.

Monsieur Blanchette-Joncas, you have six minutes, please.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Welcome to the witnesses.

Minister, out of simple curiosity, how many hospitals are there in all of Canada?

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

I don’t know.

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

You’re the Minister of Health, aren't you?

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

Yes, but I don't manage hospitals.

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

Does anyone have that information?

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

No. Maybe you have the number.

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

No. It would still be good if you could reassure us, because—

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

Listen, it's certainly a very interesting question, but I don’t have the answer.

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

Okay.

In your introduction, you said that your government was proud to announce an investment of $5 billion over three years for new health infrastructure.

How much new health infrastructure do you think a $5‑billion investment over three years represents?

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

It depends on the choices of the provinces, since it’s a program that will be implemented jointly with the provinces. In fact, it's a $10‑billion program, given that $5 billion will come from the provinces and $5 billion will come from the federal government. It will therefore depend on what the provinces decide to propose as projects. In some cases, it will involve the construction of new infrastructure, and in other cases, it will involve expansions or repairs. It will depend on the priorities of the provinces.

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

Minister, I’ll mention a project that you’re quite familiar with, seeing as you’re the member of Parliament for Papineau, on the island of Montreal: the Maisonneuve-Rosemont hospital.

How much do you think the construction cost?

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

That project wasn’t part of the program.

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

It’s $3.6 billion for one hospital, and you’re giving $5 billion over three years. Do you think that’s enough for all of Canada?

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

It’s an investment that will be spread over three years, and it’s a very good start. At least, the government is aware of the provinces’ requests; certainly, the provinces have raised the issue with the Prime Minister. Gradually, we are helping them with infrastructure.

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

Minister, according to the latest estimate, the reconstruction of the Maisonneuve-Rosemont hospital will cost $5 billion, with inflation.

I’ll reiterate what your government said in its budget: “Recognising the critical need to strengthen health infrastructure across the country…”. That’s what’s written in chapter one of the budget, on page 102.

Are we building Canada strong—that's the title of your budget—when we invest only $5 billion in infrastructure, knowing that the reconstruction of just one hospital, Maisonneuve‑Rosemont, which was supposed to cost $3.6 billion, will now cost $5 billion with inflation?

It’s critical, Minister, and your own government says so.

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

You know, in the investments we’re making, we’re working together with Quebec, in your case, and with the provinces and territories in general. You’re surely not forgetting that we do health transfers. The money is additional funding that the federal government has decided to include in budget 2025.

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

We can talk about health transfers, Minister: 3% until 2028. What will it be after that?

You know that the costs of the health care system in Quebec will be higher than the money we receive from the federal government. Do you acknowledge that there’s an imbalance between the amount the federal government sends to Quebec and the cost of administering the health care systems?

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

I work closely with the Government of Quebec. I’ll be meeting with my counterpart from Quebec next week, and I’ll tell you that Quebec also signed the agreements on health care transfers in the last agreement.

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

You acknowledge, then, that it costs more.

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

We will always reach agreements with Quebec.

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

Madam Minister, you do recognize that there’s an imbalance. There are people who are paying the price.

In my area, the emergency department at the Trois‑Pistoles hospital is currently struggling. The same is true for the emergency department in Pohénégamook. The one in Mont‑Joli has already reduced staff, cut services and shortened its hours.