Mr. Speaker, today's launching of the National Forum on Health marks the dawn of an exciting new era in Canada's medicare.
For too long Canadians have been concerned about long waiting lists, rising drug costs, the scarcity of rural physicians, inefficiencies in the system, quality of home care and many more.
At the same time, they know Canada must cope with costs due to new technology, new drugs, our aging population and the emergence of new diseases.
The forum, chaired by the Prime Minister, will bring together Canada's wealth of talent and knowledge in the health care field such as that of Dr. Noralou Roos of Winnipeg. It will engage Canadians in developing solutions to challenges facing medicare, taking into account its five basic principles and all the major determinants of health.
The National Forum on Health will set the framework for Canada's renewed vision of medicare as we approach the 21st century. Let us applaud the government.