Thank you very much.
Thank you all for taking the time to come in to present to us.
I am a practising physician, but on the other end of the spectrum. I have pediatric patients, but they frequently show up with their grandparents, so I hear about their issues as well.
All of you have mentioned health concerns, particularly you, Vanessa. You told a story, and I will say that I have heard those stories as well. I think many seniors really are at risk because of their lack of ability to communicate. We, as physicians, have a tendency to speak in a different language that seniors don't speak. Quite frankly, I don't think many Canadians speak it.
I believe there should be some degree of accountability for health care, whether it be through the federal government through the Canada Health Act, or through the provincial governments, which, because of that act, have taken on a responsibility for providing health care. They state that others should not be allowed to do that, but that doesn't provide for patients. It has become very bureaucratic.
Could you give me a sense of what you think that accountability to patients really is for seniors? What accountability should the Government of Canada and the governments in the provinces have to seniors? They've taken on the responsibility for care, so how should they be accountable for providing patients good care when they've taken on that responsibility?