Mr. Speaker, the provinces are increasingly asking for greater latitude in the financing of health care. For example, they would like to be allowed to impose user fees. Yet, studies show that such fees would not help control health expenditures and could result in underuse of services by those who are really sick.
However, costs can be reduced by improving the efficiency of health care services. We all know that, all over the country, there are drug consumers, as well as some health care professionals, who abuse the system.
I hope that the government will launch an awareness campaign to ensure that Canadians are responsible consumers of the health services provided to them. Our health care system is the most generous in the world, but some profiteers make it extremely costly to the state. Moderation is the solution.