Evidence of meeting #33 for Health in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was program.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Members speaking

Before the committee

Vaughan  Board Chair, Canada Health Infoway
El-Demerdash  President, Telus Health
Ensor  Strategic Advisor, Canada Health Infoway

Maxime Blanchette-Joncas Bloc Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC

Dr. Vaughan, we're talking about a computer system that is 85% owned by a private company and involves $300 million in public funds.

In your view, is this arrangement a success or a failure?

5 p.m.

Board Chair, Canada Health Infoway

Peter Vaughan

That 85% is a technical part of the hub that Telus has. The 15% of that part is really what involves the opportunity to have the open standard approach that allows for the provinces and territories to use that. They can use that too.

Maxime Blanchette-Joncas Bloc Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC

Mr. El‑Demerdash, how much public money have you received from the government?

5 p.m.

President, Telus Health

Mohamed El-Demerdash

Telus Health received an average of a little over $10 million per year from Canada Health Infoway over the nine years of this program.

Maxime Blanchette-Joncas Bloc Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC

What's the total?

5 p.m.

President, Telus Health

Mohamed El-Demerdash

The total, to be precise, was $98 million.

Maxime Blanchette-Joncas Bloc Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC

Has the program finally been paid for, with all that money?

5 p.m.

President, Telus Health

Mohamed El-Demerdash

I'm sorry, Mr. Chair. The translation did not come through.

5 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal

I'll stop the clock.

Mr. Blanchette-Joncas, if one person speaks at a time, it will be easier for the interpreters. There's no interpretation, so I stopped the clock.

I'll give you the time, even though you have only seven seconds left. I'll let you ask a question.

Maxime Blanchette-Joncas Bloc Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC

With all the public money you've received, is the program finally been paid for?

5 p.m.

President, Telus Health

Mohamed El-Demerdash

The funding and the compensation that we received was for meeting the specifications and requirements of the contract that we had in place with Canada Health Infoway. Telus Health was successful in implementing all of the requirements that we received.

5 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal

Thank you.

Three minutes—

Maxime Blanchette-Joncas Bloc Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC

Mr. Chair, I want a yes-or-no answer: has the program been paid for?

5 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal

I'm sorry. Your time is up.

Maxime Blanchette-Joncas Bloc Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC

Mr. Chair, he's not answering the questions.

5 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal

I gave you three minutes, and that is, I think—

Maxime Blanchette-Joncas Bloc Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC

What is this, a circus?

The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal

You can make arguments, but I'm going to go to the next one.

Maxime Blanchette-Joncas Bloc Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC

Mr. Chair, this is ridiculous.

5 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal

We'll go to Madam Konanz for five minutes. Please go ahead.

5 p.m.

Conservative

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

Mr. Kalra.... Is Canada Health Infoway executive vice-president Abhi Kalra holding any shares or stock options in Loblaw Companies Limited since being hired by Infoway, yes or no?

5 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal

Mr. Vaughan.

5:05 p.m.

Board Chair, Canada Health Infoway

Peter Vaughan

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I wasn't sure who the question was directed to.

Not that I'm aware of. I don't know.

5:05 p.m.

Conservative

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

Am I correct that this would be part of the process of screening someone you would hire as an executive vice-president?

5:05 p.m.

Board Chair, Canada Health Infoway

Peter Vaughan

I'm not aware that this question has ever been asked of any employee who was hired.