Health Committee on Feb. 5th, 2026

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

You have 20 seconds left.

[Maggie Chi, Liberal, Don Valley North, ON]

—is that where you live determines the type of care you receive.

How does the bill help those in remote and rural areas feel connected, compared with urban centres?

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

The minister has eight seconds to answer.

[Maggie Chi, Liberal, Don Valley North, ON]

I'm sorry.

[Burton Bailey, Conservative, Red Deer, AB]

It's yes or no.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[Marjorie Michel, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

Can I answer?

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Yes. You have eight seconds.

[Marjorie Michel, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

First, we need to first make sure that all remote communities have good access to the Internet. It will be a game-changer for them. I saw on the ground that remote communities are starting to use AI tools.

I think that with technology, in two or three years, we'll have a very different health system. Things are moving very fast in the right direction.

[Maggie Chi, Liberal, Don Valley North, ON]

Thank you, Minister.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

If I give you a time limit, I would ask members not to ask a question that requires a long answer, please. It could come in another round. Otherwise, we're never going to have the time for everyone to ask the minister questions.

Mr. Blanchette-Joncas, go ahead.

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

Madam Chair, I want to let you know that I have my stopwatch, and I don’t need you to tell me how many seconds I have left.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

You have six minutes. Go ahead.

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

Yes. My point is—

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Obviously, I will make sure you do not exceed that, Mr. Blanchette-Joncas.

[Burton Bailey, Conservative, Red Deer, AB]

Is it six? I thought it was five for the second round.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Actually, this is a five-minute round, but we usually give the Bloc a second six-minute round when we're doing a two-hour session.

[Burton Bailey, Conservative, Red Deer, AB]

Thank you for the clarification.

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

Madam Chair, I simply ask that you not intervene to tell me how many seconds I have left, because it can disrupt the discussion with the witnesses.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

I am sorry, Mr. Blanchette-Joncas.

I will not let you go over the time, though. Just remember that. I will just have to cut you off if you continue to speak.

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

Do you understand the translation correctly, Madam Chair? That’s not what I said.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

You're saying not to give you a time limit, but most people get it and they can still speak and listen.

I'm supposed to keep the time, Mr. Blanchette-Joncas. You have six minutes. It hasn't started yet. If you exceed your six minutes, I will tell you so.

Go ahead.

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

Minister, why is the government refusing to honour the applications pre-approved by Sun Life under the Canadian dental care plan? It forces patients to pay amounts that were not anticipated because of a change in rules without notice.

Are you aware of that?

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

No, I’m not aware of the changes without notice that you’re talking about. I’m going to turn to my officials.

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

The Department of Health, is that you? Do you talk about dental care at the department?