Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge the Romanow commission's hearings in Fredericton last Friday. Mr. Romanow's visit followed a people's forum, which I held in Fredericton on March 24, the findings of which were submitted to the commission.
I am extremely proud of the quality of the debate around health care that took place in Fredericton. Nearly 100 people gave up a Sunday afternoon because they care about the future of health in Canada. They emphasized wellness; primary health care; more federal funding, but with strings attached; and an end to federal-provincial finger pointing.
They advanced the need for a third party arbitrator of federal-provincial agreements, and a greater federal role in human resource issues. They clearly distanced themselves from a privatized American system as being inconsistent with the values underlying medicare.
I wish to thank co-chairs Russ King, Linda Silas and to all the participants for sharing their time and talent in this important debate.