Mr. Speaker, I was pleased during the last parliament that the Prime Minister persuaded the provinces to make a deal on health care and the children's agenda. This was a major step forward.
However, we must still work at strengthening the federal role in health matters.
In the end, it is only the federal government that can ensure nationwide standards. Only it can make sure that all Canadians, not just some regions, get the health care and early childhood support that they are entitled to.
Our health care system is designed to be universal, portable, comprehensive, publicly funded and publicly administered. Let us keep it so.