House of Commons Hansard #19 of the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was practice.

Topics

HealthAdjournment Proceedings

7:55 p.m.

NDP

Heather McPherson NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB

Mr. Speaker, like millions of other Canadians, I owe my life to our universal public health care system. In 2017, I was diagnosed with and successfully treated for cancer. In the years since, I have received regular diagnostic screenings and follow-up care thanks to a public health care system built on the fundamental value of freedom. Regardless of who they are, where they live and of how much money they have, all Canadians have the freedom to access quality, publicly delivered health care.

However, today in Alberta, health care is under attack. Jason Kenney and his Conservative government are making no secret of their attempts to dismantle the public system to which I and so many others owe our lives.

In just a few months, Kenney's Conservatives have unilaterally cancelled contracts with doctors and opened the door for the corporatization of care. They have increased reliance on for-profit delivery of surgeries and are planning to spend $200 million for a private orthopaedic surgical facility. They have announced the privatization of health support services, resulting in the layoff of 11,000 Alberta workers. Just last week, they voted to support a private two-tiered health care system that would allow the wealthy to access publicly funded services while everyone else has to wait for care. They have done all of this in the middle of a global health pandemic.

As a result of Jason Kenney's actions, physicians are leaving Alberta, and rural and northern communities do not have access to health care. Medicine Hat is losing its maternity health clinic, where there are 6,000 to 9,000 prenatal appointments every single year and where more than half the babies born in that city are delivered. Today, thousands of front-line health care workers across Alberta walked off the job to protest the cuts that are threatening Alberta safety.

Health care is in crisis in Alberta and it is only getting worse. It should be obvious to all Canadians, especially now, that an American-style health care system is not the answer. If we did not understand how critical our public health care system was before COVID-19, we certainly understand it now.

While most of us watch in horror as thousands of Americans die every day from COVID-19 and millions lose their access to health care as they lose their jobs, Jason Kenney and the Conservatives aspire to turn our public health care dollars into private profit for his friends, for billionaires and for corporations. At this moment in time, when quality, accessible health care is so clearly a moral and economic necessity and Canadians' lives are on the line, we should be expanding our health care system to better meet our needs, not allowing it to be dismantled. Too many families in Canada go without the medicine they need because they cannot afford it. The diagnosis may be free but the treatment is not. Too many families in Canada suffer because they cannot afford mental health care. Too many families go without dental care until they end up in the hospital with emergency services.

Instead of improving and expanding health care, we are forced to defend it from people like Jason Kenney. However, defend it we must. The Canada Health Act is very clear. Canadians are guaranteed the right to health services without financial or other barriers.

What will the government do to protect Albertans against attacks on our public health care and protect the Canada Health Act?

HealthAdjournment Proceedings

7:55 p.m.

Dartmouth—Cole Harbour Nova Scotia

Liberal

Darren Fisher LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health

Mr. Speaker, let me assure my colleague that this government is firmly committed to actively defending our publicly funded health care system and to vigorously upholding the Canada Health Act that underpins it. Like all Canadians, we share the strong belief that all individuals deserve access to timely, quality health care, regardless of their background, where they live or how much they make. This is part of our national identity. Canadians believe in the equality of citizens, and our health care system reflects that fundamental belief.

The Government of Canada does not support a two-tiered health care system where patients may choose, or be required, to pay for quicker access to medically necessary services. Access to the insured services of our publicly financed health care system must be based on need, not on the ability or willingness to pay.

This is why the Minister of Health's mandate letter includes specific direction from the Prime Minister to ensure compliance with the Canada Health Act on matters of private delivery and extra billing. Patient charges undermine the principles of fairness and equity. If a province or territory permits extra billing or user charges for medically necessary hospital or physician services, a mandatory dollar-for-dollar deduction must be taken from the jurisdiction's federal cash transfer. The Minister of Health has made it very clear that she intends to enforce the CHA in this regard, wherever extra billing and user charges occur.

That is why, in March 2019, deductions in respect of patient charges that occurred in 2016-17 were taken from three provinces. There was $1,349 deducted from Newfoundland and Labrador's Canada health transfer payment, in respect of user charges for insured health services; $8,256,024 deducted from Quebec's payment, based on the amount of patient charges confirmed by the Quebec ministry of health; and $16,177,000 deducted from British Columbia's payment, based on the findings resulting from the Health Canada and British Columbia audit agreement and publicly available evidence.

The goal of our government in administering the Canada Health Act is not to take deductions from federal transfers, but to ensure patients can access the care that they need. Patient charges for medically necessary services pose a barrier to care. The new reimbursement policy provides an incentive for provinces and territories to eliminate patient charges. Under this policy, those provinces and territories facing deductions will be eligible to have them reimbursed if they eliminate patient charges in a timely manner. The first deductions eligible for reimbursement under this policy were those taken in March 2018.

Our commitment to the publicly insured health care system is reflected in our actions. In addition to mandatory deductions for patient charges, the diagnostic services policy, which came into effect on April 1, 2020, aims to eliminate patient charges for medically necessary diagnostic services such as MRI or CT scans, whether they are provided in a hospital or a public or private clinic.

Let me point out that the Government of Canada acknowledges that our health care system has always had a place for the private sector. The Canada Health Act does not prohibit provinces and territories from contracting for the delivery of health care services to third parties, provided patients are not charged for what is normally covered by publicly insured services. Ultimately, such fees create barriers to accessing health care, and this government is committed to seeing such fees eliminated. Let me conclude by confirming—

HealthAdjournment Proceedings

8 p.m.

Conservative

The Deputy Speaker Conservative Bruce Stanton

We are at the time of expiry, so we will go back to the hon. member for Edmonton Strathcona.

HealthAdjournment Proceedings

8 p.m.

NDP

Heather McPherson NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB

The problem is that what the member is describing allows us to have a two-tiered health care system, and the Canada Health Act is very clear. Provinces are obligated to meet the requirements for public administration, comprehensiveness, universality, portability and accessibility; and the Canada Health Act is meaningless unless it is enforced.

Therefore, I would very much like to go back to my province and tell Albertans that while their Conservative provincial government has abandoned them and has chosen profit and privatization over health care, the federal government will protect them, but I am not hearing that from you. I am not hearing that you are going to be protecting the people of Alberta.

I am going to continue to stand in this House and ask for you to fight for our cherished public health care system, and demand that we protect it from people who seek to privatize it and create a two-tiered American-style system.

HealthAdjournment Proceedings

8 p.m.

Conservative

Bruce Stanton Conservative Simcoe North, ON

I would remind the hon. member to direct her comments to the Chair. The member spoke in the second person instead of the third person. The word “you” is what usually tips us off to that. It is not meant as a criticism.

The hon. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health.

HealthAdjournment Proceedings

8:05 p.m.

Liberal

Darren Fisher Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS

Mr. Speaker, I would like to reiterate that the Government of Canada is firmly committed to actively defending our publicly funded health care system. We will ensure Canadian citizens continue to have quality health care in accordance with the principles enshrined within the Canada Health Act. This includes striving to eliminate extra billing and user charges, which create barriers to accessing care.

Our government will work collaboratively with its provincial and territorial counterparts to realize the Canada Health Act's goal of ensuring that access to necessary health care in Canada is based on medical need and not one's ability or willingness to pay, as I said earlier. As a government, we take that goal seriously and our administration of the Canada Health Act reflects that.

The values underpinning Canada's universal public health care system are more important than ever as we continue to respond to the unprecedented challenges presented by the COVID-19 outbreak. The Government of Canada will continue to defend universally accessible health care for all Canadians.

Veterans AffairsAdjournment Proceedings

October 26th, 2020 / 8:05 p.m.

NDP

Rachel Blaney NDP North Island—Powell River, BC

Mr. Speaker, I am here again today to talk about the immense wait list for veterans across Canada. We know that veterans who are facing multiple challenges are having a further challenge of not being able to get their disability pension. In fact, well over 40,000 veterans are now on the wait list.

A report from the Parliamentary Budget Officer highlighted the fact that if an investment of just over $120 million were made over the next few years, Veterans Affairs would be able to address two fundamental things. First, it would be able to get through the terrible wait list, which many members have been on for more than a year, in one year. Second, the Parliamentary Budget Officer pointed out that this plan would ensure it never happened again. This is incredibly important.

We know that Veterans Affairs workers have been very clear. They are doing the very best they can. They are working very hard, but they cannot get to the end of the wait list because they simply do not have enough people to do the work. With this situation, we are seeing a higher level of burnout of caseworkers and veterans are falling behind because there is simply is not the staff to support them.

I am very confused about why the minister keeps talking about the hires Veterans Affairs is making as temporary positions. It is very clear from the significant wait list that it is not a temporary job. Long-term jobs need to be there to support our veterans.

It is very important that the Liberals take responsibility for making the choices they have made and stop blaming the Conservatives, although I agree the Conservatives did cut back significantly on the places veterans could go to get the support they needed and also cut staffing. That is partially why we are where we are today, but the government has had five years to get it right and it still has not done it.

We also have heard that because of COVID-19, the application process could become even harder, so the wait list is going to grow immensely. There was recently a Globe and Mail article that quoted Brian Forbes, chairman of the National Council of Veterans Associations, which represents over 60 veterans serving organizations. He said, “The reason the new applications are down is because advocates like ourselves are facing the reality that without medical evidence, they're not going to give us a decision.” Here we are, more veterans waiting longer.

I also asked another question earlier this month. The government is spending money to fight veterans in court. One of the most terrible examples is Mr. Charles Scott, a veteran who has sadly had to sue the ministry to get action. The member for Edmonton Strathcona, his MP, updates me regularly on this very sad case. Mr. Scott's file had been lost in the pile due to many factors. This reflects the fact that there is not enough staff to address the urgent needs of veterans. Because of this, Mr. Scott lost his chance to lock in the supplementary career replacement benefits before the system was phased out.

This is wrong. He fought for our country and now because of the choices the government has made, he is in a position where he is fighting his own country for his rights. We all want to know that veterans are cared for. They step up for us. It is absolutely essential that the government finally steps up for them.

I will not stop fighting for veterans. The wait list is atrocious. Enough excuses, it is time for action.

Veterans AffairsAdjournment Proceedings

8:10 p.m.

Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook Nova Scotia

Liberal

Darrell Samson LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence

Mr. Speaker, my hon. colleague is always on point, and I appreciate that. It is important to have these discussions.

With regard to the member's comment about litigation, it would be inappropriate to speak on a matter that is currently before the court. However, I will say this. The Government of Canada knows that all of us in this country are enormously indebted to the past and present members of the Canadian Armed Forces for the sacrifices they have made on our behalf.

That is why the well-being of veterans is a priority for our government. Since 2016, we have invested over $10 billion of new money into our veterans and their families. That is money for educational opportunities and career transition services for veterans, tax-free benefits for caregivers and services for families. It is money that has gone toward increasing physical and mental health supports, and research into new treatment for PTSD and related health conditions.

These are considerable investments that have truly improved the lives of our veterans and their families. Can we say the system is working perfectly? Absolutely not.

We are well aware that the service delivery gap exists and that it is still taking too long to process applications, benefits and services, but we also know we are taking many steps to address these issues.

In June, we introduced a strategy to reduce wait times for veterans that includes reorganizing teams, improving and leveraging technology, and streamlining certain steps in the process. This strategic document describes the mission that Veterans Affairs Canada has undertaken to change the way it works, make faster disability benefits decisions, and better serve our veterans as a result.

We have committed nearly $200 million over the next two years to retain case manager employees and 168 disability adjudication resources, provided in budget 2018, as well as hired an additional 350 employees dedicated to making decisions and reducing wait times. According to the PBO report, the impact of new hires made as part of this investment will significantly reduce the backlog.

According to the PBO report, the additional employees hired as part of this investment will contribute substantially to clearing the backlog. These important measures build on what the department has been doing for the past several years to improve benefits for our veterans.

It is also worth noting that the most recent Speech from the Throne announced, a few months ago, the intention to create a $20-million veteran organization emergency support fund. This fund will help organizations with the resources they need to continue to help veterans and their families on the ground.

We are grateful to each and every one of them for their service and their sacrifices, and we will continue to support them.

Veterans AffairsAdjournment Proceedings

8:10 p.m.

NDP

Rachel Blaney NDP North Island—Powell River, BC

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for being here to respond to my questions and concerns, but I want to say that these are hollow promises and I am sure they are not making veterans, who are having to take their own country to court, feel any better.

The history of veterans over the last two different party governments is this: The Conservatives shut down offices and fired workers, and the Liberal government is hiring a few people, but not enough, and then closing all of them temporarily. We have a backlog that is continuing to grow and a plan that tells veterans they have to wait another two and a half years before they get the supports they need.

Veterans are in desperation. We need action. I ask the government to please listen to veterans.

Veterans AffairsAdjournment Proceedings

8:15 p.m.

Liberal

Darrell Samson Liberal Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS

Mr. Speaker, it is widely recognized that everything we have today in Canada, we owe to the service and sacrifices of Canadian women and men in uniform. These individuals have helped make this country what it is today, namely a nation that works to build peace and promote the ideas of freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

We can never forget the enormous toll this important work has taken on many individual Canadians, nor must we ever forget to stop working to create systems that allow our veterans and their families to receive proper care and support in post-service life.

This government is listening to Canadian veterans and we will keep doing what we need to do to support these veterans as we move forward.

Veterans AffairsAdjournment Proceedings

8:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Deputy Speaker Conservative Bruce Stanton

The motion that the House do now adjourn is deemed to have been adopted. Accordingly the House stands adjourned until tomorrow at 10 a.m. pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).

(The House adjourned at 8:15 p.m.)