Elinor Caplan

[Transfer Payments, February 18th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, as the member should know, if he listened to the budget presentation, the $3.5 billion available immediately to the provinces is available at their discretion to solve whatever problems they deem fit. That money has been made available and is part of an $11.5 billion investment, the single largest investment of this government and, as the member just heard, the single largest investment of any government in two decades.

[Health Care, February 17th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I know the member, as a former member of a provincial legislature, would understand well provincial responsibilities in the delivery of health services.

If she has questions such as the one she just posed I suggest she take them to the provincial premier.

This government is concerned with the Canada Health Act and the five principles as I have outlined. We are also important funding partners and we lived up to our obligations yesterday with $11.5 billion cash, plus tax points, transferred to the provinces.

We have done our part. Now it is—

[Health Care, February 17th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the member quite rightly identifies that it is the provincial governments that have responsibility for design, management, administration and delivery of health care services in their provinces.

The federal government, as guardians of the Canada Health Act, can ensure that the five principles of medicare are in place: universal access, reasonable access, portability, comprehensiveness and public administration. That is our responsibility. We take it very seriously and we leave the issues of delivery to the provinces.

[The Budget, February 17th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, unlike the Reform Party opposite, this party stands firmly in support of the principles of the Canada Health Act. That party would scrap the Canada Health Act and lead us down the path to American style medicare. Frankly, it cannot accept good news.

The good news is that the budget yesterday has secured Canadian health care for the future. As a partner with the provinces we have given them the resources they said they need. We gave almost $30 billion in cash transfers to the provinces in support of Canadian medicare.

[The Budget, February 17th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the member knows full well that the priorities and the principles of the Canada Health Act ensure a contract with Canadians that says that when they need health care services it is up to the provinces to deliver those services. The federal government is a partner in funding.

Yesterday we lived up to our commitment by giving the provinces $3.5 billion immediately and $11.5 billion over the next five years. We have helped to ensure that the principles of the Canada Health Act will be ensured and secure for the next millennium.

[The Budget, February 17th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister and the minister of health said very clearly—and yesterday the finance minister said it clearly—that health care is a priority for this government.

The $11.5 billion allocated yesterday is the single largest investment that this government has made. That is the answer to the member's question.

[The Budget, February 17th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the $3.5 billion that was announced in yesterday's budget is available to the provinces immediately to help them resolve the issues as they wish within their provinces. We want to ensure that people have access to the care and services they need when they need them and where they need them.

The increase in the base of the CHST to $15 billion by the end of year three will help ensure the sustainability of health services in this country into the next millennium.

[Health Care, February 16th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the principles of the Canada Health Act are clear. The government has stated very clearly our support for Canadian style medicare and our opposition to an American style system as the Reform Party would have.

Further, in the budget that will be announced within the hour the member opposite will see our commitment to health care in Canada.

[Health, February 15th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I acknowledge the member's interest in this question.

The government is very much supportive of developing a report card to Canadians. We acknowledge the work done by the Advisory Council on Health Infrastructure and its very important report entitled “The Health Info Way”.

We accept its recommendations and believe that all governments should be working together so that we can be more accountable to Canadians for the delivery of the health services they receive. We believe that a report card will assist Canadians in having confidence that services will be there for them when they need it.

[Health Care, February 15th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, once again I encourage the leader of the fourth party, the leaders of all parties and all members to be in their seats tomorrow at 4.15 p.m. when the finance minister will read the budget. Her questions will be answered.