Madam Speaker, I welcome the opportunity to speak in support of Bill C-95, an act to create the Department of Health, because it is through the Department of Health that Canadians express the values that underlie the Canadian health system. I speak of the values embodied in the Canada Health Act, an act which is the responsibility of the Minister of Health and through her the Department of Health.
The Department of Health is instrumental in protecting and preserving the Canada Health Act and with it the values that underlie Canadian society. The principles of the Canada Health Act, universality, accessibility, comprehensiveness, portability and public administration, are rooted in our common values. These Canadian values are equity, fairness, compassion and respect for the fundamental dignity of all. Canadian society has cherished these values for many years and the concern shown recently by those who feel the health system is threatened clearly indicates those values remain strong.
The Canadian concern for the preservation of our health system is heightened when we hear the Reform Party's position on medicare throughout this debate. The Reform Party's position is simplistic and in reality is an attempt to undermine and destroy the five fundamental principles of the Canada Health Act.
The Reform Party's promotion of user fees will not be tolerated by Canadians. The user fee system advanced by the Reform Party will lead to a United States health care system. This is unacceptable for Canadians. User fees will affect accessibility and universality. Universality is not based on insurability criteria or the number of pre-existing medical conditions that exist in a person. All Canadians are entitled to medically required health services.
The first and fundamental principle in our Canada Health Act is universality. All Canadians should benefit on uniform terms and conditions from medicare. Universality really means that we as Canadians believe we are all the same when it comes to health care needs. It does not matter what our health status is or how big our wallet is or where we happen to live in the country. Everyone who needs health care will be treated the same. This is equity. It recognizes our dignity as human beings and shows we are fair and compassionate people.
Accessibility is the second principle. What does it mean? It means that we should not face any barriers in receiving health care, no point of service charges such as extra billing or user charges. Underneath it means that we practise in Canada what we preach. We say that all Canadians are to be treated equitably and we ensure that they will be. The accessibility principle makes sure that no discriminatory measures can be put in place that would result in Canadians being treated differently. All are to have reasonable access to necessary health care services based solely on need.
I call upon the Minister of Health to enforce vigorously the provisions of the Canada Health Act, to ensure that user fees or service charges are not implemented in any riding in any province in Canada. I wish to go on record today as supporting the Minister of Health in her initiatives to protect and defend the principles set forth in the Canada Health Act.
The principle of comprehensiveness recognizes that Canadians have a range of health care needs and those needs should be met. Delve deeper, however, and we see that comprehensiveness means we practise fairness. It would not be fair to ensure only some medically necessary services and not others. For example, it would not be fair to cover only services that cost catastrophic amounts, while leaving other just as necessary services uninsured. Immunization of a child against measles is just as necessary as a coronary bypass operation. Indeed immunization has society-wide benefits.
Throughout the debate the Bloc Quebecois continuously refers to the intrusiveness of the bill into provincial jurisdiction and reminds us of the exclusive jurisdiction of the provinces regarding administration and management of the health care system. The Bloc Quebecois has failed to advise the House of the flexibility that the Canada Health Act provides. Eighty-nine per cent of Canadians
including the Quebecois support the Canada Health Act and the medicare system.
The delivery of health care is a provincial responsibility. Canadians respect this and the diversity that it brings. In the end we will all benefit from diversity because a successful innovation developed in one province can be borrowed and adapted by others. For example, let us look at the CLSCs developed in Quebec, the extra-mural hospital in New Brunswick and the quick response teams in British Columbia.
Innovation has never been as important as it is today. During these difficult fiscal times the health system must adapt and change. It must do this at a faster rate than ever before. Innovation is needed to make sure that the health system continues to adapt to changing circumstances. Pressures on the health system are always changing: changing demographics, changing technologies, changing fiscal situations. The comprehensiveness principle recognizes that health systems must be adaptable and allows for innovation.
The Reformers' approach to medicare simply implies that there is not enough money in the system to afford health care in Canada. They address the issue by compromising fundamental and basic values and principles set forth in the Canada Health Act. This is unacceptable. The user fee approach will lead to a United States health care system that is not to be supported in Canada.
Money cannot be the determining factor of success in a health care system. If money were the major criteria the United States would have the best health care system in the world as it spends 14 per cent of its GDP on health.
Based on OECD statistics United States ranks 14th in the world among developing countries. Japan spends the least amount of money in the world on its health care system and Canada spends 9.4 per cent of its gross domestic product on health care. Managing the system, protecting our values and fundamental principles will allow us to save money and to administer health care more efficiently and effectively.
The fifth and final principle is that of public administration. Our health insurance plans must be operated by provincial governments on a non-profit basis. Public administration is the means by which we ensure all other principles. When health insurance is operated and funded through governments we can easily make sure that health care is universal, accessible, comprehensive and portable because we have direct control over it.
After having heard the debate and comments of the member for Calgary Centre I urge him to read carefully Bill C-95. I draw to the hon. member's attention the words health and welfare. For the information of the House, welfare is now to be correctly directed to the jurisdiction of the Department of Human Resources. Human resources is responsible for employment, training and creating opportunity for unemployed Canadians.
On the other hand, health is to remain within the Department of Health. Through Bill C-95, the creation of the Department of Health, the department responsible for the Canada Health Act, we are affirming the principles and values that we hold dear as Canadians. I urge all members of the House to do the same.