Health Committee on April 21st, 2026

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

I'm asking this question because we don't have access to the agreement.

Regarding this agreement that is funded with public funds, could you commit to providing the committee, in writing, with the clauses related to intellectual property, the complete breakdown of payments received since 2017, as well as the provisions related to data and the implementation of the project?

[Ratcho Batchvarov]

It's important to note that the trust established between the public and private sectors is extremely important when it comes to disclosing sensitive items, commercially speaking and with regard to technical aspects owned by TELUS.

However, we are committed to following the proper processes in place in the event of an access to information request. In response to this request, as is customary and given that we are a private company, we hope to have the right to redact or remove certain more sensitive components so as not to compromise our intellectual property and the development efforts in which we have invested over the years.

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

Do you have a solution to propose? As legislators, we hold the government accountable and ensure the sound management of public funds. If we don't have access to the private contracting data—which is understandable—how are we supposed to do our job?

[Ratcho Batchvarov]

There is a process for requesting access to information. That's what it's there for. This is not the first time this type of access to information has been requested. However, certain confidential information is redacted from the document before it is sent. As a contractor for Canada Health Infoway, we must follow the established processes.

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

I understand.

Do you think that, thanks to the access to information request, we'll have access to the data on the intellectual property clauses, the breakdown of payments and the deliverables?

[Ratcho Batchvarov]

The request will follow the well-established process we've been familiar with for many years.

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

What would you say if I told you that a request had already been made, but that it was denied?

[Ratcho Batchvarov]

That's not my process, so I can't comment.

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

It's mine, and I'm commenting on it. I'm telling you that you're currently talking in circles. That's why I'm asking you to submit in writing the data I previously requested from you.

You have had access to public funds, so it's normal for the people who finance these public funds to know what's going on with the contracts.

So we have financed a public system, the majority of which still belongs to the private sector today. Can you confirm this?

[Ratcho Batchvarov]

If a request for access to information is submitted to us by the program operator—again, I remind you that we are not responsible for the program—we will review it seriously and provide the information in the proper manner.

That includes protecting our intellectual property and our IT infrastructure. You can understand that, if this information were to become public, there would be a significant risk that, from a technical standpoint, sensitive information would also become accessible.

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

We understand the matter of infrastructure and intellectual property, but I don't think that's the issue. It's more a matter of public funds. We want to know whether taxpayers got their money's worth.

In your opinion, did taxpayers get their money's worth with this project?

[Ratcho Batchvarov]

As I mentioned, I have been very clear regarding the funding that TELUS Health has received over nine years.

I was also very clear in saying that our deliverable works and that we are able to provide this service to all Canadians, regardless of the province in which they live. The technology we were asked to implement works. It is very reliable and secure, and it has processed millions of transactions per year.

As far as we are concerned, at TELUS Health, we have fulfilled our mandate.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Your time is up. In fact, we're over the time.

I will now go to the second round of questions. It's a five-minute round.

I will go to Mr. Bailey from the Conservatives for five minutes. Go ahead, please.

[Burton Bailey, Conservative, Red Deer, AB]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

My first question is about the $98 million for the program over nine years. How much of the $98 million was used to create the 15% of the remaining IP?

[Ratcho Batchvarov]

I cannot disclose details and split that over—

[Burton Bailey, Conservative, Red Deer, AB]

You are in a parliamentary committee, and the benefit of this Parliament.... You have privileges. Should you not answer, you could be held in contempt.

These are not difficult questions. I don't know why you refuse to answer them.

[Ratcho Batchvarov]

As I mentioned prior, there was $89 million of base services and $6.4 million for 59 approved change orders that were presented to us by Canada Health Infoway. That is the breakdown, if this is what you're looking for.

[Burton Bailey, Conservative, Red Deer, AB]

How many jobs were outsourced?

[Ratcho Batchvarov]

This was a previously asked question.

[Burton Bailey, Conservative, Red Deer, AB]

I know. That's why I'm asking it again. I'm trying to get a straight answer.

[Ratcho Batchvarov]

As I mentioned, I don't have the details in terms of outsourcing jobs—

[Burton Bailey, Conservative, Red Deer, AB]

Can you provide those to the committee?

[Ratcho Batchvarov]

This would be part of the disclosure of information request. It's part of the agreement, and we—

[Burton Bailey, Conservative, Red Deer, AB]

No, no. I'm asking you—

[Ratcho Batchvarov]

We were held by strict considerations in terms of what can be hired and outsourced—