Natural Resources Committee on Aug. 21st, 2009

[David Caplan]

It could, potentially. We will continue to monitor that and provide our very best estimates. We won't know or be able to understand it until it is realized, and that obviously will be quite a bit into the future.

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

Quebec has indicated the costs so far are over $10 million, so we're certainly talking about tens of millions of dollars in additional costs to the health care system.

Now, what we've been struggling with around this committee is that there seems to be a lot of response from the government.... Well, certainly it took three months to get a letter out, but generally, the government says it's concerned. But when we actually press the government on what it has done, I think the total to date is something in the order of $6 million budgeted--not even spent at this point--to address this crisis. That's a lot of smoke and mirrors, but you have to wonder, where's the beef?

Do you believe that this $6 million, if it indeed has been spent, is adequate given the size and scope of this crisis right across the country? There's the personal suffering, certainly, but when we look at the cost to the health care system across the country as well, do you think that's adequate? And do you think it's fair that it would take three months for a minister just to reply to a letter from the health minister in charge of the largest province in the country?

[David Caplan]

I know--and it was reiterated to me in the reply from Minister Raitt--that on June 16 Minister Aglukkaq announced that the federal government would provide $6 million. But I believe that was for research funding to assess alternative medical and diagnostic procedures that could potentially alleviate it. I don't believe it was for any direct funding, compensation, or help for provinces or patients.

I characterized that there is a constructive working relationship between staff at the ministry and staff at Health Canada. I want to assure members of the committee that we are doing our best to work together. I'm looking for leadership at the federal level to recognize the challenge and to redress and mitigate the effect it will have on cancer and cardiac patients, their families, and the health care providers in the province of Ontario and across Canada.

As for the delay in replying to my correspondence, I think those questions would be better addressed to Minister Raitt and Minister Aglukkaq. Perhaps they will provide you with some understanding of what their time imperatives are.

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

There has been some discussion around funding for alternative facilities, such as the McMaster research facility. Has the Ontario government taken a position on that? If so, will the federal government be asked to provide funding to increase the isotope production from that facility?

[David Caplan]

I believe that on May 29 the federal and provincial governments jointly announced that they would provide some $22 million for upgrades to the research reactor at McMaster University in Hamilton. My understanding is that that's the only reactor in Canada, other than NRU, capable of using the technetium isotopes. I also understand it's estimated that it will take approximately a year and a half from the time of submission of the proposal until production will even be possible. I'm not aware of any further discussions that have taken place.

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

Thank you, Minister Caplan.

I'd like to ask you about the credibility of the government. We've seen three revised dates now for reopening the NRU. We discussed earlier the length of time it took to even get a reply to your correspondence. Do you believe the government is actually taking this crisis seriously?

[David Caplan]

I'm disappointed that the restart dates for the reactor have not been met, and I'm quite concerned that the reactor won't open until spring 2010. I'm relying upon the federal government to provide a long-term, sustainable supply of medical isotopes.

It might be appropriate to pose those questions directly to the federal ministers. But patients and their families are demanding that we work together to create certainty about a plan. I know that's what I am committed to, and I'm willing to work in partnership with our federal colleagues.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

Thank you, Mr. Julian.

We'll go now to Mrs. Gallant.

[Cheryl Gallant, Conservative, Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will be sharing my time with Brian Jean.

Saskatchewan has stepped up to the plate and submitted a cost-sharing proposal to the expert panel on isotope supply. Did Ontario submit a proposal to offer a collaborative approach to securing a long-term isotope supply?

[David Caplan]

In my letter to Minister Raitt I indicated that Ontario would be willing to work in partnership with the federal government to look at securing a sustainable supply. We have not, of our own nature, produced a plan to do so. But I look forward to engaging Minister Raitt and/or Minister Aglukkaq or members of the government in that regard.

[Cheryl Gallant, Conservative, Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON]

The whole discussion and fear over the isotope shortage has raised fears about treatment of cancer after it has been diagnosed. Many calls that I'm receiving in my constituency office are from worried patients who are waiting three to six months and longer to have radiation treatment. They think that's a consequence of the isotope shortage, even though they have already been diagnosed.

I understand that 25% of patients who have already been diagnosed are not receiving their radiation treatments within the targeted timelines. What is being done to ensure that the patients who have been diagnosed and are fortunate enough to have family doctors to order the tests are actually getting the treatments they need?

[David Caplan]

That's a very good question.

In fact, this is one of the areas in which we have taken incredible leadership. I think the Canadian Institutes of Health Research have verified that Ontario leads Canada regarding being able to drive down wait times in certain areas, cancer among them. In fact, that's why we're building additional radiation bunkers in your end of the province, in Ottawa, but also in Sault Ste. Marie, in Kingston, and in southwestern Ontario as well.

So we are extending capacity to provide radiation and provide it on a more timely basis. We have been seeing, in fact, steady reductions in the wait times that patients have to wait.

The fact of the matter is that in this case, when there is a delay or disruption in the time for diagnosis of cancers, that obviously means that there will be a delay in the treatment of those cancers. This is, I think, of concern to this committee: what leadership is being provided by the federal government in order to mitigate and to lessen the delay that patients and their families are inevitably seeing?

[Cheryl Gallant, Conservative, Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON]

Thank you, Minister.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

Thank you very much, Mr. Minister. We appreciate your time here.

Thank you, everyone, for your questions.

The meeting is adjourned.