Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for outlining, in great detail, all of the provisions in the 2003 and 2004 health accords that were put in place by the Liberal government in the last Parliament.
What I did not hear from the hon. member is any commentary whatsoever as to what the new government has done in regard to a health care wait times guarantee. In fact, the Prime Minister, during the election campaign, told Canadians that this matter would be the first item dealt with by his government and that it would be completed by the end of 2006. That was in the press release and that was said at the press conference held by the Prime Minister on that date.
The health minister of today has said that the moneys necessary to support and achieve a fail-safe system for Canadians who cannot get the health care they need within the clinically acceptable wait times period, will require money. There is no money in the only budget provided to the House by the government.
The health minister said that the money for this was buried in the $41 billion 10 year plan of the 2004 accord. The premiers and health ministers of the provinces say that guaranteed wait times were not part of the accord. It appears that there is a misunderstanding between the government and the premiers of the provinces with regard to where the money will come from.
I thank the member for outlining the excellent work done by the Liberal government in the last Parliament but he should use this time now to explain why the Conservatives broke their promise to have a health care wait times guarantee in place before the end of 2006.