Mr. Chair, the fact the House has chosen to focus on the health estimates here in the committee of the whole obviously shows that we think the health care system in the country deserves this kind of scrutiny, and it reflects the deep interest all of us have in our health care system across the country.
I know that we will have a substantial debate on many policy issues this evening. However, since this session is about the estimates, I want to take a few minutes to map out the work of my portfolio and, in particular, my department, Health Canada. Then I want to outline how that department gets its results and some of the major issues that are addressed through the resources that Parliament will vote this year.
Let me start with the broadest scope of my responsibilities to Parliament, which is to say, the entire health portfolio.
As members may probably know, many ministers are responsible to Parliament for a mix of departmental and agency activities. The health portfolio has one department, Health Canada, which I will come back to in a few moments. It also includes the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, which has a $752 million budget. Of that, fully $711 million goes to grants, largely to support innovative health research.
I am also responsible for two small agencies: the Hazardous Materials Information Review Commission and the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board.
Health Canada is by far the largest component of my portfolio. The main estimates for 2004-05 project a budget of $3.2 billion for the department and more than 9,000 full time equivalent employees, with many of them spread across Canada's regions. Since the mains were developed before the creation of the new Public Health Agency of Canada, all those figures include the people and funds that are being transferred to that new agency during this year.
There is another point that I should make now on these resources. They do not include the transfers that our government makes to the provinces and territories, such as the Canada health transfer. Those funds are recorded in the estimates of the Department of Finance.
Health Canada expenditures cover a very wide range of activities that are aimed at improving the health of Canadians. The activities include ones that are fully within federal jurisdictions, while others support the provinces and territories as we all address common challenges.
In most cases, the work of my department takes place through partnerships with all kinds of institutions, groups and individuals who are interested in health issues.
Let me take a few moments to identify some of the major areas of activity of my department. I will set them out by the strategic outcomes that we can see in the report on the plans and priorities.
By far, the largest single component of our budget, and in that I include the resources being transferred to the Public Health Agency of Canada, is spent on first nations and Inuit health activities. The strategic outcome is healthier first nations and Inuit, through collaborative delivery of health promotion, disease prevention and health care services. This reflects our jurisdictional responsibility for the health of first nations on reserves and Inuit people.
It includes the direct health services that we fund in those communities, whether supplied directly by us or through funding agreements with aboriginal groups. It also includes the non-insured health benefits program that covers many health related costs, such as dental and vision care, medical transportation and prescription drugs.
This is an area in which our government has been investing more money.
These decisions are meant to address the needs of growing first nations and Inuit population. They are meant to take on specific challenges, such as the need for clean water in first nations and Inuit communities. They are incorporating our continued commitment to deal with specific concerns, such as diabetes.
These estimates include the 2003 budget commitments to increase funding to the first nations and Inuit health system by $231.9 million this year alone for specific needs, as well another additional amount of $36.4 million to cover rising demands in general.
A second aspect of our work in Health Canada falls under the strategic outcomes of access to quality health services for Canadians. In this case, while a lot of the attention goes to our work to meet obligations under the Canada Health Act and deal with major policy questions, much of the funding goes to support primary care reform.
We are working closely with our provincial and territorial colleagues to help fund their efforts to improve how primary care is delivered in Canada through the primary health care transition fund, which is allocated an extra $23.6 million for 2004-05.
This area is also the focal point for much of my department's work to follow through on many of the first ministers health commitments of recent years. For example, it includes the $20 million northern health supplement that came about in connection with the 2003 first ministers accord on health care renewal.
In the interest of time I want to group two strategic outcomes together. One is about healthier environments and safer products for Canadians, while the other is about safe health products and food. Both have in common the legislative responsibilities that we have under a range of federal laws and regulations. Some people do not realize the substantial role that the government is expected to play on issues such as approving new drugs going onto market, testing consumer products for safety or ensuring that Canadians are not exposed to radiation hazards.
However every working day doctors, scientists and other professionals, as well as many support staff in my department, are dealing with those specific priorities.
These estimates incorporate $37.6 million that will help us implement the new therapeutic access strategy. The strategy is quite wide-ranging and I hardly have the time to do it justice here. Let me summarize it by saying that it will help us improve our regulatory performance in getting new drugs to Canadians sooner, while improving our ongoing tracking of drugs that are on the market. It will help us promote the more optimal use of drugs by Canadians and will fund important policy work.
The estimates also include other commitments such as an increase of $15 million for a successful federal tobacco control strategy. They also include our work under Canada's drug strategy which received $18.4 million this year in the 2003 budget. That funding is helping us support measures to reduce substance use and abuse, particularly among young people. We are using it to support community driven programs and activities.
These estimates include $7.2 million in additional funding for the Pest Management Regulatory Agency which is part of Health Canada. The funds are needed to implement the new Pest Control Products Act that was passed in the last Parliament.
As these estimates are set out, there is a substantial allocation devoted to the strategic outcome of bringing about a healthier population by promoting health and preventing illness. This work is largely moving to the new Public Health Agency of Canada.
Although there is much more that I could discuss in terms of our strategic outcomes and the organization and mandate of the department, I should conclude these remarks by saying that there is more to come.
The President of the Treasury Board has tabled supplementary estimates that included our most recent commitments to Canadians. For example, they authorize spending related to initiatives from the 2004 budget, such as improvements to Canada's public health system and the extension of both the Canadian diabetes strategy and the hepatitis C prevention support and research program.
They will cover funding for initiatives arising from the 2003 first ministers accord. One example is the support for the new health council of Canada. Another is funding for the health human resources strategy that involves work with the provinces, territories, health organizations and others to ensure that we have the health workforce that Canada needs.
In time, my colleague, the President of the Treasury Board, will also seek the Commons approval for our share of commitments under the first ministers agreement that was reached in September.
Let me sum up by saying that a record of solid fiscal management and a commitment to put resources where they are most needed is paying off for Canadians. Our government has a diverse and active health agenda. My department is at the centre of that agenda and is taking the steps to use the public funds that it gets in the most productive ways possible and very often in partnership with others.
