Mr. Speaker, the hon. members are all aware that tomorrow I am meeting with my provincial and territorial counterparts to talk about the renewal of our health care system.
I know from speaking with most of my provincial and territorial counterparts that they agree with the importance of being transparent, with sharing information with Canadians and with the positive impact this can have on the renewal of our health care system.
The federal government's position is clear and it mirrors the position of Canadians. We need to know, in fact we deserve to know, how much we spend on health care and what we spend it on. This sharing of information will result in a stronger health care system because, in part, it will reduce the finger pointing and eliminate the blame game. This is important and it should not be dismissed.
Canadians have made it clear they do not want to see their governments bickering. Rather, they expect governments to work together to strengthen our health care system, to provide them with timely access to high quality care now and in the future. And the federal government is determined to do its part.
I have said repeatedly, and I mean it sincerely, that we need to work cooperatively, both within the federal government and across all levels of government, to respond to the health concerns and priorities of Canadians.
The first issue, on which I have already touched, is that of Canadians' expectations. As everyone in the House well knows, we now have the benefit of the final report of the Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada, the Romanow report.
He found that Canadians want the following things: better accountability from providers and governments as well as users; greater transparency about where the money goes and its impact; proof of value for money; and finally, greater efficiency and cooperation within and among governments.
My hon. colleague's call for the unconditional transfer of Canadians' tax dollars to the provinces certainly would not meet this test. The Government of Canada unequivocally shares Canadians' demand for commitment to the principle of accountability. There has also been consensus across the country that the Government of Canada has an important role to play in Canada's health care system.
Canadians expect the federal government to take a strong stand in upholding the values of equity, fairness and solidarity that underpin medicare and in ensuring that their tax dollars deliver back to them timely access to high quality care. Canadians are also saying, loud and clear, that now is the time to make sure that this system is going to be there for them and for their children when they need it. This is an obligation I take very seriously.
I want to assure all Canadians that, like them, the Government of Canada is anxious to get on to the task of setting health care on a sustainable course for the future. We have the political will to do what is necessary and what is right. Earlier this week the Prime Minister made it clear that the Government of Canada is committed to moving forward to provide Canadians with the health care system they want. The Prime Minister told Canadians:
A concrete action plan to modify medicare will require money. If we have an action plan to effect important, long term changes, and if all governments agree on that plan, I can assure you that the federal money required will be available.
What is needed now is collaboration: federal, provincial and territorial discussion and agreement on what shape this concrete plan should take. Fortunately we have the advantage of a solid track record in federal, provincial and territorial cooperation in this regard. I remind the House that just a little over two years ago, in fact in September 2000, we celebrated our shared success in reaching a landmark agreement with the provinces and territories to support the health care system.
On September 11, 2000, as I have mentioned, the Prime Minister announced $23.4 billion of new federal investments over five years to support agreements by first ministers on health renewal and early childhood development. The first ministers identified key priorities for collaboration on health care renewal.
I would remind my hon. colleague from Hochelaga--Maisonneuve that as a result of this agreement the Province of Quebec received $239 million from the medical equipment fund and a further $133 million from the primary health care transition fund, in addition to funding under the CHST.
I am confident we will achieve success once again when the first ministers meet early in the new year to determine where we go together from here.
We have proven that we can sit down together and set aside our political differences for the national good. We have demonstrated, through the dispute avoidance and resolution agreement, that regardless of our political affiliation we are all motivated by the shared desire to do what is right for Canadians.
Our objective tomorrow when health ministers meet is to discuss and, I hope, begin to plan the renewal of our health care system. We will provide our best advice to finance ministers and first ministers to establish that concrete plan and the necessary long term federal investments, which will be included in the next budget.
Given these developments, I believe that my hon. colleague's motion is not only ill-conceived but ill-timed. It would be, as I say, putting the cart before the horse for the federal government to unilaterally determine right now how, or how much, money should be transferred to the provinces and the territories before we have the plan for renewal to which I have referred.
I am fully aware of and respect the fact that the provinces and territories are primarily responsible for the organization and delivery of health care in the country. They are on the front lines. However, there is no question the federal government has an important leadership role to play, both in terms of the financing of health care and in relation to issues that are national in scope, such as the enforcement of the Canada Health Act. But this is not about the federal government imposing on the provinces. It is about collaborative partnership for the common good, because that is what Canadians expect.
Canadians want action now. That is why we need an action plan for renewal: a plan that federal, provincial and territorial governments all help to develop and in which they have ownership; a plan that will be responsive to Canadians' desire for timely access to high quality care; a plan that will renew our publicly funded health care system to ensure its immediate and long term sustainability; and a plan that will serve us all well and long into the future.
While it would be inappropriate to predict the outcome of the upcoming meetings, both among the health ministers this week and with the first ministers in a month or so, let me say that I have every confidence we will move forward quickly, so I encourage the hon. member of the opposition to set aside his motion and instead work with us to advance this goal. His constituents in Quebec, like mine in Alberta, want the assurance of a timely, reliable, high quality health care system that will be there for them when they need it, on the basis of their needs and not their ability to pay.
I am convinced that if we keep our focus on this simple but important objective, we will not only meet Canadians' expectations but become a stronger nation in the process, and all Canadians will thank us for that.
I look forward to my colleagues' comments and questions.