Mr. Speaker, I am not aware that the government has any such document. If the minister has that opinion, I am sure that based on the usual conditions of whatever privacy laws are involved he will share it with the House.
Lost his last election, in 2004, with 36% of the vote.
Supply May 18th, 2000
Mr. Speaker, I am not aware that the government has any such document. If the minister has that opinion, I am sure that based on the usual conditions of whatever privacy laws are involved he will share it with the House.
Supply May 18th, 2000
Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to speak to the opposition motion regarding Alberta's bill 11. This is a very important topic and of concern to all Canadians.
At the outset, I must say that on May 5 the Alberta legislature passed bill 11. The bill will create the regulatory framework for contracting services to private for profit facilities. The federal health minister has relayed his concerns about this bill. Prior to the passage of the bill, and contrary to the remarks made by the opposition, time and time again the minister has voiced his concerns about the bill. He has said that the federal government was really concerned about some of the views expressed.
The government is committed to ensuring that our health care system will not be put in jeopardy. We wish to make sure that the opportunity exists to detail these concerns and commitments.
There are some disturbing trends happening with medicare. I share the views of my fellow Canadians about what is happening in Alberta. These trends do not speak to the values of Canadians. Indeed, we need to know how people are looking at medicare. On one hand, Alberta will have the medically necessary services. On the other hand, it will also provide enhanced medical services. I believe that is a contradiction. Time and time again when we have compared services provided by the private sector, double billings have occurred and it has not worked.
Our medicare system is one of the best in the world. Like many medicare systems, things are changing. MRIs and various other things are causing this change. Adopting new technology does not mean that Canada should end up with a two tier medical system.
In a policy statement in November 1999, the Alberta government announced its intention to have private delivery of some surgical services. At the same time, the federal health minister raised some important issues related to the sustainability and integrity of the public health care system, including the consistency of the proposed measures with the spirit and intent of the Canada Health Act. He conveyed these views publicly not just in one province but across the country.
In November we asked how private for profit delivery of health services would reduce waiting lines for services in a way that would contain costs and maintain quality, but these questions were not answered. On the contrary, based on the opinions of experts, and actual experience in Alberta, the waiting period for services had increased. In areas where private for profit clinics were used, these lists exceeded those of the public sector.
On the subject of costs, our minister asked if we could expect private for profit hospitals to save money. Would they be more cost effective? Again, the Alberta Consumers Association of Canada found that a shift in cataract surgery from the public sector to the private sector resulted in increased costs for consumers not only in the actual cost of the operation, but in administrative costs as well as transaction costs.
The health minister asked how pressure from private investors to de-insure more services, so services can be charged for privately and their profits will balloon, would be addressed. He also asked how pressure from private investors to purchase medical goods or services patients do not require would be addressed. He asked how the tendering process for contracting would be open and transparent.
The bill was passed. It contains a commitment to preserve the principles of the Canada Health Act as the foundation of the health system in Alberta. However, the sincerity of this commitment is suspect given that the question is still outstanding.
Earlier this year the Prime Minister and the Alberta premier asked all Canadian health ministers to compare the bill to similar provincial legislation. There are important differences in the way Alberta intends to proceed. In particular, the sale of enhanced or extra services in combination with medical goods and services insured in the public system, unlike in other provinces, represents a serious concern in relation to the principles of accessibility in the Canada Health Act.
How serious is this? The day the bill was passed, the Saskatchewan premier, Mr. Roy Romanow, answered. He said “When we released our legislation our press release was entitled a bill to prevent two tiered health care”. He continued “We are at odds with bill 11 in Alberta”.
Back in Alberta the legislation bans queue-jumping, where supposedly people who could afford to pay for these enhanced services get quicker access to insured services but concerns remain about how this ban will be monitored and reported on.
The health minister respectfully suggested that the bill be amended to prevent this, as does the legislation in Ontario and Saskatchewan, but it was not.
Another key concern, specifically and clearly expressed by our government, relates to private for profit facilities accommodating overnight stays for patients. This too represents another important difference between the approach of the Alberta government, going far beyond what is in place in other provinces. The health minister suggested that the bill be changed to prohibit services involving overnight stays until the full implications for Canada's health care system are understood.
On April 7 the health minister put the Alberta government on notice that these types of facilities that would be regulated under this legislation would be considered hospitals under the Canada Health Act. This means that all hospital services provided by these facilities must be fully insured and, like hospitals, these facilities are prohibited from selling any insured service to an insured person on a private basis. As the federal health minister said “This is in keeping with the fundamental principle of our single tiered health care system, care based on need not on the ability to pay”, or the size of their pocket book or credit card.
On the day after bill 11 was passed, the federal health minister reiterated these concerns noting how the Alberta government did not respond to any of his recommendations. He said “Bill 11 is not the direction in which we should be heading to strengthen our publicly funded health care system. We have grave reservations about investing public funds in private-for-profit facilities”. He also announced that the federal government would be strengthening its capacity to detect violations under the act, should they occur.
We will act. The strengthening means that the minister has now committed some $5.5 million to improve administration of the Canada Health Act. With additional staff distributed across the country our health care monitoring capabilities will be enhanced and will ensure compliance with the act.
I want to say categorically that the health care system reflects one of the basic values of Canadians. I am not animated too often in the House, but I will be right behind the minister to make sure that there is not a two tier system. Let us imagine for a minute that somebody thinks he or she could make money from somebody who is ill. I rest my case.
We will be monitoring the legislation. The government is committed to make sure that Canadians get the care they desire, that it is not two tiered, and that it is not based on someone's pocketbook.
Emergency Preparedness Week May 5th, 2000
Mr. Speaker, this week is Emergency Preparedness Week. This is the week that Canadians get together to prepare for eventualities or disasters that may occur.
There is an old maxim that says “If you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail.” There is no question that over the last 10 years we have been subjected to many disasters, such as floods, forest fires, ice storms and toxic spills.
Our military, the Red Cross and many organizations are working collaboratively to make sure that Canadians are safe.
This week we are holding forums to remind families, provinces and communities to get together to work toward a plan that will make these disasters less likely to create havoc in communities.
I urge my colleagues in the House of Commons and all Canadians to work collaboratively with their families to be prepared so that we do not have any major problems.
Petitions May 1st, 2000
Mr. Speaker, in the last petition the petitioners ask that the government reaffirm its 1989 resolution to eliminate child poverty by the year 2000. They suggest that the federal government introduce a multi-year plan to improve and establish legislation for children.
Petitions May 1st, 2000
Mr. Speaker, the third petition is with regard to Yugoslavia. The petitioners ask that we put in some funds to help rebuild the entire country.
Petitions May 1st, 2000
Mr. Speaker, the second petition asks that we withdraw Bill C-23, reaffirm the opposite sex definition of marriage in legislation, and recognize marriage as an institution.
Petitions May 1st, 2000
Mr. Speaker, I have a number of petitions to present today. In the first one the petitioners ask that parliament enact legislation to establish an independent governing body to develop and implement uniform mammography testing.
The Environment March 24th, 2000
Mr. Speaker, there is a lot of discussion about our health care system and its sustainability. However, several of my constituents have recently told me that illness prevention is still the best medicine. A big part of that is a healthy environment.
I was pleased that in our recent budget there were several measures for environmental protection and I look forward to working with all colleagues in this direction.
I also hope that all members will co-operate on this file to improve our environment and to act upon the measures contained in the budget. Clean water, clean air and a protected environment are a big part of our heritage, the heritage I hope to leave for my grandchildren and for future generations of Canadians.
I hope this is only a down payment on what we will do as a government for the future of our people and our children. A clean environment and good health is great for Canadians.
Petitions March 22nd, 2000
The fourth petition, Mr. Speaker, is on behalf of rural mail couriers. The rural mail couriers ask that the Parliament of Canada and Canada Post make sure that rural mail couriers have all the benefits and wages that are due to them and to make sure that they are covered for things like gas prices and so on. I would like to table that petition.
Petitions March 22nd, 2000
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I have the honour to present four petitions. The first three hail from Hanover, Walkerton, Meaford, Owen Sound and Elmwood in the riding of Bruce—Grey.
The petitions deal with the subject of mammography. The petitioners ask that parliament establish an independent governing body to help implement and enforce uniform and mandatory mammography quality assurance and control standards in Canada.