Mr. Speaker, the reality of the situation is he who pays the piper calls the tune.
At the recently concluded conference of health ministers, all of the provinces and their health ministers were on one side of the issue and the federal Minister of Health was on the other side. The provinces and all Canadians want to resolve this issue. The only consultation taking place between the federal government and the provinces has been a letter stating that October 15 is the deadline.
Will the Prime Minister instruct the Minister of Health to be flexible on the deadline so that the provinces and all of the stakeholders involved in health care and the delivery of health care, which is under serious pressure, are able to come around the table and solve the problem without artificially imposed deadlines?