Mr. Speaker, 80% of Canadians acknowledge our health care system as the best in the world and see the principles upon which it is based as a source of national pride.
Cynical parties, however, would have Canadians believe that evidence of the abuse known as queue jumping is reason for robbing Canadians of this pride. Worse still, the same parties that point to this abuse would correct the problem of queue jumping by institutionalizing it as a two tier wealth care. To these parties allow me to repeat the words of the hon. finance minister “Not now, not ever”.
Because of the Liberal government's initiatives in the 1999 budget Canadians will be proud of their universal health care in the 21st century, as proud as 80% of Canadians are today. We are all very proud of the $11.5 billion increase in the health care fund.