Mr. Speaker, the New Democratic member for Winnipeg North Centre speaks with passion about health care.
I would point out a certain contradiction in what she is saying. Today, the House has before it a motion moved by the official opposition, the Canadian Alliance.
This motion is based on the assumption that the health care system is in a critical state, in crisis, and that, as a result, it needs to be overhauled.
The member for Winnipeg North Centre waxes eloquent against the Canadian Alliance stand on health care but is getting ready to vote with the Canadian Alliance, against the government, on this motion. I am trying to follow her logic.
Mr. Speaker, you, who follow our debates closely, heard her as well as I did. She spent most of her time shooting down in flames the positions of the Canadian Alliance and then, at the end, suggested that she was going to support the motion because the opposition parties must stand together. Is she serious? Is not her greatest threat the Canadian Alliance and its proposals?
She is well aware that the government has done everything necessary to maintain the basic characteristics of our health care system. It is getting ready to increase the level of funding. It is working with the provinces to improve the system. There will be more discussions this afternoon between ministers. She knows all that.
We are being told to listen to the provinces. That is another contradiction because what are the provinces saying?
Canada's publicly funded health care system is not in crisis. Canadians continue to be well served by their health care system, but it is under serious challenges due to rising demand, et cetera. We know that. This is what the provinces have said. Among the provinces, there are three governments led by the New Democratic Party.
We are paying attention and listening to what the provinces are saying. The system is not in crisis but we have to prepare new responses for the new challenges and new pressures we are feeling now.