Madam Speaker, I am sorry, I would not agree to that requirement because we know that less than 15% of Canadians have access to palliative care. Essentially that would be a means of denying medical assistance access to Canadians.
Even in the case where my sister had access to palliative care, there were many aspects. For example, she had no access to a psychologist or a sociologist, although there was a social worker who was available in the cancer clinic. However, because they were not doing direct medical intervention, they kicked her out of the cancer clinic. Even with palliative care, she was suffering unendurable pain. Pain is a very personal experience, so even where there were wonderful doctors and caregivers, she was in such extreme pain that she could not be touched.
I do not agree with that as a condition. Nonetheless, I do agree that there is an obligation on the government, and it would have been nice if the previous Conservative government had in fact funded palliative care.