Human Resources committee  That's a great question; it's a great point. Again, the land of pilot projects is Canada. We had a pilot project in Saskatchewan, partly funded by the Government of Saskatchewan and the federal government, on exactly what you're saying. They looked at nurses coming from the Philippines.

Human Resources committee  We did that. From about 2002 to 2005-06, you saw a big increase in nursing graduates. We went from about 4,500 to 9,000. There was a big influx. The problem is that we're not finding jobs for them, so they go into another program. All nursing graduates, except a few courses in Quebec, go through university programs now, and they will go somewhere else.

Human Resources committee  Yes. Honestly, that's how our workplace skills and development program or initiative was created about seven years ago. We got funding from there. You know, in this country, if you're a plumber, you can go for different apprenticeship programs with the help of the federal government under EI and the help of your employer.

Human Resources committee  You need LPNs, licensed practical nurses, in the system. There are about 15,000 in the country. How many of them could go and take the RN program? That's a great question. We hear a lot of hearsay that they would be a strong component of it, but it wouldn't be an overflux. One, you need the education criteria to join it.

Human Resources committee  Perfect. I think I came with all my friends, but being a good New Brunswick emergency room nurse, you get a call on Friday to appear and you prepare and do the job. So I'm glad I'm here. If there are mistakes in my presentation, please accept my apology. You will receive a full brief from us by the end of this month, and hopefully we won't have as many graphs and numbers as Statistics Canada just gave you, but it is a good focus.

Finance committee  Access to health care is a matter that the present and previous governments had made a priority. Some people have asked why we signed a health care accord in 2004. It was because parliamentarians were tired of being questioned about access to health care. And there were specific priorities: it addressed five conditions we had already discussed, but did not address home care, primary care and the cost of pharmaceuticals.

Finance committee  We have to understand that our population is already quite old, with the average age being 48. We work at all hours of the day, all days of the week. This is not really an easy question for us, because of the shortage of nurses. Nurses are needed all the time, so we work all the time.

Finance committee  One hundred fifty-eight thousand.

Finance committee  It should have actually done what it had promised to do: sit down at a table, as was done in 2003-3004, where it would have negotiated an agreement with the provinces concerning financial needs. There are things the provinces want regarding those financial needs. They want to know in the long term, in 5, or 10, or 15 years, what the federal government's contribution will be.

Finance committee  I mentioned before that it's a question of priority.

Finance committee  —did not say to increase the cost of health care. I said to spend more smartly. Give continuous funding—

Finance committee  —but spend more smartly.

Finance committee  It's not a yes or no question, so I'm not going to be pinpointed there. But I—

Finance committee  I'm a proud New Brunswicker, and I know what's happening at home.

Finance committee  I need more than 30 seconds, Mr. Hoback.