Allan Rock

[Health Care, March 15th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, we will do what is required to protect the Canada Health Act.

Let me remind the hon. member that she can make a real contribution to preserving medicare by working with us to renew it for the 21st century rather than aligning herself with the forces on the right who would destroy medicare. I wish the New Democratic Party would work with us toward making the long term changes that are necessary, rather than playing into the hands of the Reform Party and others who would destroy medicare in the country.

[Health Care, March 15th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member should rest assured that the government will do whatever it takes to protect the principles of the Canada Health Act.

With respect to Bill 11, I invite the hon. member to observe that the premier of Alberta himself is still talking about possible amendments to that bill. It has yet to receive second reading in the legislature. We have yet to see regulations which are referred to extensively in the bill.

If the hon. member has a legal opinion with respect to it now, I wish she would share that with the House.

[Health Care, March 13th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, over the last four budgets transfers to the provinces for health have increased. The result is that overall transfers are higher today than ever. Of the $60 billion spent every year on health by governments in this country, $20 billion is spent by the Government of Canada either directly or through the transfers to the provinces. Some $20 billion of $60 billion is from Ottawa.

The truth is that of all public health spending in Canada this year, fully one-third is contributed by the Government of Canada.

[Health Care, March 13th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, that is unalloyed nonsense. There is no deal between governments. There are principles that the Alberta government proclaimed. They will not stand in the way of the enforcement of the Canada Health Act.

The real issue is why is the NDP the defender of the status quo? We want to work to renew medicare. It thinks that simply pouring billions into the old system will work. It will not. Why does it not join with us toward constructive change?

[Health Care, March 13th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, we know exactly what to do. It is to work with other governments to renew medicare. That is exactly what we are doing with the NDP governments of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and British Columbia. We are working constructively to do things that will help. We do not believe that private for profit hospitals are going to help. The experience so far is that they have longer waiting lists and higher costs and there are real questions about quality.

I would like to know why will the NDP not join in the effort to renew medicare instead of aligning itself with those who would destroy it?

[Health Care, March 13th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, what I find puzzling is why the New Democratic Party will not join with us in the work we are doing to renew medicare within the principles of the Canada Health Act.

What the NDP governments of Saskatchewan, Manitoba and B.C. and the federal NDP are doing instead are playing into the hands of the Reform Party, those on the right who do not want the Canada Health Act.

The real enemies of medicare are over there on the right in the Reform Party. If they think those people are bad, wait until they hear the views of Stockwell Day on the subject.

[Health Care, March 13th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, as the member knows, we are looking at the legislation—and, indeed, I would like to see the regulations as well—to determine whether it complies with the Canada Health Act.

I was in Alberta last week and took the opportunity to say to Albertans and all Canadians that we do not believe private, for profit hospitals is the way to go. They are no less costly, they have longer waiting lists and there are issues of quality.

We have urged the Alberta government to reconsider. Private, for profit is not the answer to problems facing medicare.

[Health Care, March 2nd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, last year's budget dedicated over $200 million to aboriginal health and added the capacity of Health Canada to develop home and community care on reserves in first nations communities and to increase the number of medical personnel, including nurses.

It is very difficult, as the member will know, to engage the services of doctors and nurses to provide services in far-flung communities in the north. We are doing the best we can. We are improving our resources and we will work toward meeting those health care needs.

[Canada Health Act, March 2nd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I have already made the point. The government has significantly increased cash transfers and overall payments for health care. It takes more than just money. It takes the additional money. It takes planning, ideas and constructive change.

What is very disappointing about the NDP's position is that by talking this way, by pretending that we are not doing our share financially, it is opening the door to people like Mike Harris to talk about two-tiered medicine.

Will the NDP stop helping Mike Harris? We will never accept two-tiered medicine in this country.

[Canada Health Act, March 2nd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I understand that the legislation will be tabled later today. It has not yet been released publicly. I have already told the House that I will look very carefully at that legislation. I have already expressed real concern about many aspects of this proposed policy. I raised serious questions with the minister of health of Alberta.

I can assure the hon. member and the House that as soon as we receive that legislation we will examine it very carefully to determine whether it complies in letter and in spirit with the Canada Health Act.