Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you for being with us, Minister.
I listened carefully to your statement, although I am surprised that you made it only in English. I thought that ministers were required to make their statements in both official languages. Perhaps I am mistaken. I thought that they did it out of obligation, but perhaps it is simply out of courtesy.
In your statement, you said that you were a nurse. For my part, I am a social worker. I am still an active member of my professional association in Quebec. I spent my career in service to seniors, offering support at home and in nursing homes. I can tell you one thing: it's not the national standards you are working on that will change anything at all for the quality of services offered to seniors in nursing homes in Quebec. I am strongly opposed to the issue of national standards. The solution lies in health transfers, as requested by the premier of Quebec and those of all the provinces.
Even though I would like to discuss the matter and debate it with you, I am so convinced that you are on the wrong track that I will not raise it today with you. I would prefer instead to talk to you about the financial situation of the most vulnerable seniors.
I have had the opportunity to ask questions of you in the House, Minister. Here, I would like you to answer me quickly and precisely, so that I don't have to interrupt you often during your answers.
As you know, 183 000 seniors are no longer receiving their Guaranteed Income Supplement because they accessed the Emergency Response Benefit. In December, you said that these people would get a one-time payment in May.
Can you explain to me clearly and simply why the one-time payment will only be made in May? What are the reasons? How do you explain this?