Mr. Speaker, health care in this country has been devastated by this government's slash and burn policy toward the transfer payments to the provinces.
Recently the federal health minister stated that more cash is not necessarily the cure for what ails the system.
In my province of New Brunswick we have seen another round of health care horror stories. Surgery waiting lists are growing. Doctors are leaving and patients are frightened, worried and stressed out.
A doctor in Saint John recently sent me a letter in which he outlined dangerous waiting times for surgical procedures in New Brunswick. A patient has to wait over six months for the removal of a brain tumour, four months for the repair of an abdominal problem. Patients also wait routinely one year for gall bladder and hernia repairs.
Doctors and health care services need more money now. Patients are suffering. The federal government must stop downloading on to the provinces. I urge the minister to listen to Canadians and restore health care funding.