Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak of the importance of a national health care program and in particular to express concern about the health and well-being of Canada's children.
Canadians are among the healthiest people in the world. Canada was rated first in the world in 1995 and 1996 on the United Nations human development index. This index measures a country's achievements in life expectancy. This is truly one of the best countries in the world in which to live. However, I am concerned about the direction our health care system is taking.
At a recent conference on Canada's children and their future, the Minister of Health expressed concern that too many Canadians are falling through the cracks in our system and that many of these are children.
One of these children comes from my riding. A family from the Courtice area currently has their son enrolled in a special needs residential program funded by the province of Ontario. The province is going to cancel the funding. Ironically, the funding could continue if the child was made a ward of the state through the Children's Aid Society. Craig and Gloria Brown believe that it takes families to raise children, not the state. It is the purpose of the state to support its families.
I would ask the province of Ontario to review its policy on special needs in order to keep families together.