Mr. Speaker, I have been hearing all night the concept that most people in the House, other than the Conservatives, do not seem to understand jurisdictions. As a physician, I know that the province is responsible for where health care is delivered and who delivers it and it ensures it complies with the principles of the Canada Health Act, for which the federal government is responsible. The act discusses issues like universality, portability, accessibility and that people should have the same quality of health care no matter where they are in the country.
This is not about the delivery of health care. The provinces may have a responsibility in certain instances for providing pharmacare to people who cannot afford to buy their drugs and for various jurisdictions within the provinces and to make the decision on what that is. However, a t the end of the day, the people who provide health care for the well-being of Canadians happen to be physicians. The hon. member is a physician.
In her speech, the Minister of Health said that there was nothing more important than the health and well-being of Canadians. She should know that the core issue here is how we ensure the health and well-being of Canadians under the Canada Health Act?