Jane Philpott

[Health, April 15th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his advocacy on behalf of the important matter of organ donation and the development of a pan-Canadian organ donation registry. I am pleased to report to him that this is a matter that I have discussed with my colleagues in the provinces and territories who, as he knows, play the role of the delivery of health care services, including the matter of organ donation.

I have also had the privilege of meeting with Canadian Blood Services and Héma-Québec. I am very impressed with the work that Canadian Blood Services and Héma-Québec are doing on this matter. There is, in fact, a tremendous amount of work being done on the matter of a national organ donation registry, and I would be pleased to discuss this matter further with my colleague in the future.

[Health, April 15th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, as a family doctor, a parent, and the Minister of Health, I know that healthy lifestyles are key to a high quality of life. That is why our government is committed to restricting commercial marketing of unhealthy food and beverages to children, regulations to eliminate trans fats, and to reduce salt in processed foods, all while improving food labels to support Canadians in making healthy choices.

In the months ahead, I look forward to working with the provinces and territories and all members of the House, including my neighbour and hon. colleague from Newmarket—Aurora, to build a better and healthier Canada.

[Health, April 15th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, it has been clear since the time that we campaigned, and from the beginning of the time that we formed government, that we are committed to making sure that Canadians have access to the health care services they need.

We are investing in home care. We have committed to investing $3 billion in home care. I have spoken with my colleagues in the provinces and territories to make sure that palliative care is part of that package.

We will make sure that Canadians have access to the palliative care they need. We will make sure it is accessible across this country. I am determined to do so.

[Health, April 15th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member opposite for his question and for his advocacy on behalf of the matter of palliative care.

Yesterday in this House, we were pleased to present new legislation which will address the needs of Canadians at the end of their lives.

We acknowledged in our communications yesterday that Canada has a long way to go in making sure that all Canadians have access to high quality care at the end of life, including palliative care.

I am determined to work with my colleagues in the provinces and territories. We are determined to make the investments necessary to make sure that all Canadians have access to the care that they need at the end of their lives.

[Indigenous Affairs, April 15th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for the question. I agree with her that indeed it is important to empower young people, to give them reason for hope.

We are working hard, along with our colleagues in provincial government and leaders in first nations communities. I have been speaking to the community in Attawapiskat, for instance. I spoke to some of the mental health workers there last evening.

We will continue to work to find ways to work with our teams to address the mental health needs in these communities.

[Indigenous Affairs, April 15th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, this House has talked before about the fact that there are numerous factors that address mental health in all Canadian communities, including indigenous communities.

Our government is investing deeply in those matters to bring better education to these communities, to address the public health needs of these communities, and to make sure that the infrastructure is there.

In addition to that, I will be working with my department to find new ways that we can continue to support these communities in mental health care.

[Physician-Assisted Dying, April 14th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, as the House knows, there were a number of consultations that were undertaken, which led to the legislation that was introduced today. We were informed by the external panel, which provided a report to us not many months ago. We were informed by a very interesting report from the provinces and territories and by an excellent report of the special joint committee of the House.

All of those bodies have in turn reached out to a number of other organizations, including indigenous organizations across this country. We intend to continue consultation and a rigorous debate in the House. We are pleased with this legislation. We believe—

[Health, April 14th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, I was pleased this morning to introduce, along with my colleague the Minister of Justice, new legislation that will support Canadians and provide medical assistance in dying. At the same time, this has triggered a conversation, a very important one, about the need to make sure that Canadians have access to the palliative care services they require in end of life. I have said repeatedly that it is important that Canadians should be able to have a good and peaceful death. However, just as much, it is important that Canadians will have a good, peaceful, and dignified life until the very end. For that purpose, we will make sure that Canadians have access to the palliative care services they need. We will do so in participation with our colleagues in the provinces and territories.

[Indigenous Affairs, April 14th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, as the member opposite well knows, the response to the needs in indigenous communities is a collaborative response. This is a response that needs to take into consideration, of course, the leadership of indigenous leaders across this country. In terms of Attawapiskat and other communities, we have done just that. We are in regular communication with the national chief, the regional chief, the grand chief, and the local chief in this community. We are also working with the provincial government, which has recently invested $2 million to support health care services in Attawapiskat. We will be there working in partnership with all of these jurisdictions to make sure that people have the services they require.

[Indigenous Affairs, April 14th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, I hope that it is abundantly clear that our government is absolutely committed to addressing the gaps in terms of the realities of the day-to-day life of indigenous people in this country. In our recent budget, we have invested $8.4 million to address those gaps. Much of that will go to addressing educational resources, which these communities need. I am pleased that within that there is $270 million that will go to improving health centres and nursing stations in indigenous communities. This will encourage health human resources to stay in these communities. We are firm in our commitment to ensure that the health care services are out there.