Madam Speaker, I am pleased to share this time with the member for Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre and put on record our concerns with the budget.
We have heard a lot today from Liberal members about the opposition getting in touch with reality. I would suggest that members across the way on the Liberal benches should stop and think just what this budget means in terms of the priorities of Canadians.
If they take a moment to study the facts and determine what the reality is, they will hang their heads in shame. Yesterday a lot of folks gathered here. They represented all kinds of organizations, particularly those in the health care field. People advocating for patients were here. People representing nurses and doctors were here. Ordinary citizens were here waiting with bated breath to hear what this government would say and do about their number one priority, health care.
The reaction in this building in the circles of folks gathered together to witness this government's response on that important issue was like being at a funeral. It was like a wake. People were devastated. One cannot imagine the sense of disappointment that was felt yesterday and which continues today.
People believed that at least the government would take their concerns seriously when it came to health care. They truly believed there would be something significant on health care in the budget. One cannot imagine the dismay, disappointment, fear and worry among those folks gathered here and all across the country when they learned that the response by this government on health care was to put in a one time short term allocation of funding to be shared by health and education, and maybe even other social programs if one reads the budget carefully, over four years. My leader was absolutely right in saying that the government is prepared to give two cents for every dollar in tax relief. It is a 2% solution when this country has a health care crisis.
There was that disappointment yesterday and today that concern is reflected in every media outlet. There is without exception nothing but absolute opposition and rejection of the government's approach to health care. I challenge members opposite to tell me and to point to one patient, one health care organization, one advocate, one health minister, one premier who is going to stand and say that the government did the right thing on health care.
Look at the media. The finance minister of Manitoba said, “This is a band-aid solution”. Health care advocates in Manitoba said, “Health cash a morsel”. Seniors in Manitoba said, “What about us?” Activists from the Council of Canadians said, “If I were the health minister I would be resigning”.
I wonder if he is so embarrassed that he might not be thinking about resigning given the way his hands have been tied and his efforts have been shackled by this government. Or is it all one big conspiracy and one big plot to ensure that this government does not do what is required on health care and allows for the dismantling of our public health care system? Is that the case? Is that what we are really dealing with today?
The CMA said, “Budget health care funding falls short”. That is putting it mildly. The CLC says as we have all said in this House, “The budget just keeps medicare on a waiting list”. The Hospital Employees Union in British Columbia said, “Federal budget response to medicare crisis anemic”. The words go on and on. The critique is absolutely clear. No one in this country is impressed with what was announced yesterday on health care, the number one issue of Canadians.
Fortunately that disappointment, dismay and outrage is turning into action and a determination to fight back. Members opposite on the Liberal benches should understand what their front benches have done, what the Prime Minister is trying to do and be prepared to rethink their positions. Maybe they will take heed of the call today for a caucus revolt. That is what we are all hoping for. Maybe some of those Liberal backbenchers will wake up and realize that they have been hoodwinked and they will stand and say “No. This is not my priority and I am not going to stand for it”.
Today we had the ambulances in front of the building. We had the hospital beds clearly depicting two tier health care in this country. We had a call from the Canadian Union of Public Employees for a Liberal caucus revolt. I quote from its press release: “Liberals call themselves the saviours of medicare. Well, let's see some action”.
Those people are looking for some backbone. They are looking for a bit of commitment. They are looking for a long term commitment and a lifelong involvement in the funding of health care. Just as I said in the House earlier today, they are fed up with these short term, one time, little supplements that the government dishes out to keep people happy. It is like a pay bonus instead of a pay raise. It is like a one night stand instead of a lifelong relationship with medicare. We cannot sustain medicare with that kind of irrational, irresponsible public policy making. It is not even public policy making; it is tinkering with the system and it is playing with the fears, concerns and passions of Canadians. I say shame on each and every one of them sitting across the way.
There is no question that what we saw in the budget really is a pittance. Some would say it is peanuts. It is a paltry amount, two cents for every dollar the government is prepared to give in tax cuts for a system that is in crisis because of Liberal cuts.
Let us go back to 1995 and remember the $6 billion the government took out of cash transfers. Let us remember that the Liberals are responsible for the biggest bite out of health care financing in the history of medicare. Let us remember what kind of chaos they put our system in. Let us remember what kind of obligations they now have to fix the mess and get on with building medicare for the future.
I cannot believe that there is not more concern being expressed by Liberals in this day and age. I cannot believe that we are hearing this kind of damage control and silly arguments coming from the front benches of the government. Obviously they realize that they have made a mistake. Otherwise we would not be hearing the kind of irrational arguments coming from the benches over there.
First the Prime Minister stands in the House and says “It is not true. We fully restored health transfer payments”. They fully restored the payments? Who believes them? Every premier in the country has identified a shortfall of at least $4.3 billion. Some would put it even higher. There is a shortfall in cash of more than $4 billion.
Then what do the Liberals do? They say “Don't worry. You have to look at tax points too”. Today the Minister of Health stood in the House and said that this government put in $40 billion. Do you know what he has done? He has put in everything but the kitchen sink. He has put in cash, he has put in equalization payments, he has put in tax points. What else?