Mr. Speaker, first I would like to wish good luck to the Minister of Health in her new portfolio. I have the feeling she is quite willing to work with all of us. I do hope though that she will be a little bit more flexible than she was with regard to the Young Offenders Act.
The minister is a friend of mine but at time she can be somewhat stubborn, and in politics this is not always to our advantage. She should follow the example I am setting as far as being flexible and willing to cooperate is concerned. Quickly, I have three short questions for her.
Will the minister agree that when she was elected, back in 1993, the federal government was contributing 18 ¢ for every dollar invested in health care? Currently, it is 14 ¢. At the first ministers' conference in August 2001, the premiers, regardless of their political stripes, asked that funding be restored the 1993-94 level, with an escalation factor. I hope that she will start her new mandate in the House of Commons by stating that she will commit in cabinet and elsewhere to acquiesce to this request.
Second, will the minister recognize that under the Constitution service delivery is a provincial responsibility? She is a constitutional law professor and her career was in constitutional law. It would be interesting to see her lecture notes and hand out materials if we could have access to them. I am asking her to make sure she does respect areas under provincial jurisdiction.
Third, and I will end on this point, during the weekend I read the Kirby report from the other House and I would invite the minister to read the part of the report dealing with the costs of drugs. They are skyrocketing. Will the minister agree that the Standing Committee on Health should review the whole issue of drug costs? In March, I will have the opportunity to make a proposal to this effect.