Debates of May 29th, 2024

Department of Health—Main Estimates, 2024-25

[Ya'ara Saks, Liberal, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health]

Madam Chair, that would be provincial data with regard to the health workforce.

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Madam Chair, it is 61%.

How many paramedics and firefighters have experienced workplace violence?

[Ya'ara Saks, Liberal, York Centre, ON]

Madam Chair, to engage with and address that data, it is under provincial purview.

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Madam Chair, it is 84%.

How many health care workers reported mental health issues last year?

[Ya'ara Saks, Liberal, York Centre, ON]

Madam Chair, that is why we have created a nurses' tool kit for mental health.

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Madam Chair, it is 92%. Almost 50% of them were assaulted 11 times or more.

How many nurses considered leaving their jobs?

[Ya'ara Saks, Liberal, York Centre, ON]

Madam Chair, we know that health workforce retention is an issue across the country due to burnout and other issues of—

[The Deputy Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The hon. member.

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Madam Chair, it is two-thirds.

Does the minister think violence in the workplace is acceptable?

[Ya'ara Saks, Liberal, York Centre, ON]

Madam Chair, we passed legislation on that. It is unacceptable, and no—

[The Deputy Chair, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The hon. member.

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Madam Chair, has the minister read the recommendations of the 2019 HESA report on violence facing health care workers in Canada?

[Ya'ara Saks, Liberal, York Centre, ON]

Madam Chair, I did some time ago, but as the member would well know, my colleague, the Minister of Health, is addressing workforce safety.

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Madam Chair, does the minister know how many of the recommendations have been acted on by her government?

[Ya'ara Saks, Liberal, York Centre, ON]

Madam Chair, that would be an appropriate question for my colleague, the Minister of Health, who addresses the health care workforce.

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Madam Chair, has the government targeted any funding for workplace violence prevention in health care?

[Ya'ara Saks, Liberal, York Centre, ON]

Madam Chair, that would be under provincial jurisdiction, as the member well knows, but we are all encouraging safety in all workplaces.

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Madam Chair, is the minister aware that my bill, Bill C-321, is a direct result of the 2019 HESA recommendations on workplace violence?

[Ya'ara Saks, Liberal, York Centre, ON]

Madam Chair, I am aware.

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Madam Chair, can the minister tell the House how many days it has been since Bill C-321 was unanimously passed by the House of Commons?

[Ya'ara Saks, Liberal, York Centre, ON]

I am not aware of that, Madam Chair.

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Madam Chair, it has been 91 days.

Why is the government blocking passage of my bill in the Senate?

[Ya'ara Saks, Liberal, York Centre, ON]

Madam Chair, the Senate is independent. The other place has its own rules and timelines.

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Madam Chair, can the minister tell us what she has done to ensure that Bill C-321 passes in the Senate quickly?

[Mark Gerretsen, Liberal, Kingston and the Islands, ON]

Madam Chair, on a point of order, I completely appreciate that there is latitude to go beyond the scope of the estimates, but we are not even talking about the estimates now. We are talking about an individual private member's bill. The last three or four questions have been on it. This is a debate about the estimates with this particular department.