Health  Mr. Speaker, this government is engaged in ensuring that Canadians have good health and the health care they need. To do that, it requires working collaboratively with our colleagues across the country. It requires working with patients and health care providers. I have had excellent discussions with my counterparts, the ministers of health across the country.

Health  Mr. Speaker, Canadians are proud of their public health care system. They expect their government to ensure that this system will always be there for them. The Canada health transfer was more than $36 billion this year, and next year it will increase by more than $1 billion to more than $37 billion.

Health  Mr. Speaker, let us be sure that this House has the facts correct. We are not cutting health transfers. We had the biggest transfer ever this year, more than $36 billion, but next year it is going to be even bigger than that, more than $37 billion. We are interested in collaborating and working with our colleagues in the provinces and territories who are doing such a good job delivering care.

Health  Mr. Speaker, Canadians are proud of their public health care system and they expect their government to make sure that it will always be there for them. We know that the provinces and territories are on the front lines providing excellent care and that they know what improvements need to be made.

Health  Mr. Speaker, I have had very good conversations with my colleagues, including the minister of health from Quebec. We have made it clear to them that we will increase investments in the Canada health transfer. I have also talked with the minister of health from Quebec about other areas where we can make further investments.

Health  Mr. Speaker, I am happy to announce that we are going to boost health transfers. Next year there will be more than $1 billion of additional money in the Canada health transfer. I also look forward to making investments in areas where we believe the provinces and territories want to work to increase access to care, including home care, palliative care, and mental health care.

Health  Mr. Speaker, I have had excellent conversations with my colleagues across this country, the ministers of health in the provinces and territories. We have agreed upon a number of priorities, areas in which we think the health care systems across this country need improvement. We look forward to a further collaborative relationship.

Health  Mr. Speaker, we absolutely intend to deliver real change on health care. In fact, I wonder how the NDP could have delivered, given its fiscal plans and its agreement to stick to a balanced budget. We believe in new investments in health care. We will be investing in home care. We will be making sure Canadians have accessible, affordable, and appropriately prescribed prescription drugs.

Health  Mr. Speaker, Canadians are rightfully proud of our strong, publicly funded health care system. We will continue to invest, and there will continue to be a growing Canada health transfer, but all health policy experts in this country agree that there is room for improvement. There are areas where Canadians do not have access to the home care they need and where people are lacking access to mental health care.

Health  Mr. Speaker, our government invested in a Canada health transfer this year that is bigger than ever, more than $36 billion. It will increase next year. The Canada health transfer will go up by more than $1 billion. In addition to that, our government is going to make investments in areas where the provinces and territories have agreed with us that there are concerns and priorities, and those include things like $3 billion for home care.

Health  Mr. Speaker, our government is committed to supporting Canadian thalidomide survivors to help them live the rest of their lives with dignity. There is no definitive medical test for thalidomide exposure. An objective review process was used to assess individuals to determine who was eligible for financial support.

Health  Mr. Speaker, in my discussions around the health accord, I have been talking to health ministers across this country about how we can make sure that prescription medications for all Canadians are affordable, accessible, and appropriately prescribed. One of the opportunities that we have taken is for the federal government to join the pan-Canadian pharmaceutical alliance.

Health  Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question. Canadians pay for health care when they pay their taxes, and they should not have to pay a second time. That is why we support the Canada Health Act. The deductions set out in the act are a last resort. We will continue to work with the provinces and territories to strengthen our universal public health care system.

Marijuana  Mr. Speaker, we take the health and safety of Canadians with the utmost seriousness. We have in place a strict regime for access to medical marijuana, which includes testing of products to make sure they are safe and free from contaminants. There are, however, dispensaries in this country that are illegal.

Health  Mr. Speaker, I have been working with all of my partners across the country on a comprehensive plan to address the opioid crisis in this country. That includes making sure all of the pillars of drug policy are addressed, including harm reduction. One of the most effective mechanisms of harm reduction is supervised consumption sites.