Health committee  We are indeed monitoring that; however, I don't have that number in front of me directly. We can certainly follow up with that.

Health committee  I'm talking about professionals. I don't have specifics. I'd have to get back to you with this model in Ontario, but it's just one illustration of an innovative model, so, if there are professionals coming into the country who want to get credentialed as nurses, for instance, but that process takes time, then they can still work in the health care system as they work toward getting those credentials recognized from the colleges and regulating bodies.

Health committee  I think you are speaking about the National Nursing Assessment Service. That organization is certainly something of interest, and we're talking to the provinces and territories about how to better support that organization.

Health committee  Essentially, we talk to the provinces all the time at the deputy minister level in terms of our engagement with them, speaking about priorities in health and how to improve the health care system—issues like health human resources, as discussed, and digital health, virtual care and how our health system is transforming.

Health committee  Yes, sure, I can speak to a couple. In Ontario, for instance, they're allowing some health professionals to work in the health care system while they're waiting for their credential recognition to come through, not necessarily at the level of credentials they are seeking, but to work within the health care system in support, for instance, of PSWs, as they work to get their credentials.

Health committee  Yes, we did a study to provide a proxy analysis based on the data that was available.

Health committee  I will look into that and get back to you.

Health committee  I will have to get back to you.

Health committee  That money was not in budget 2022, but, as I said, the government committed to creating a dedicated—

Health committee  I can't speak to the advice we provided. We continue to talk to experts and stakeholders on the best path forward. Minister Bennett is engaging extensively with experts and stakeholders in mental health to understand the lay of the land in Canada and the best way to proceed.

Health committee  No. I don't think the Constitution has changed, if you would like an answer to that question.

Health committee  I can tell you that the government is committed to creating a dedicated Canada mental health transfer.

Health committee  I can tell you that the government has committed to creating a dedicated Canada mental health transfer and, in addition, has made unprecedented investments to improve access to quality and timely mental health supports. We talked about these, but there is $45 million over two years to develop national standards for mental health, $100 million over two years to develop projects to develop mental health—

Health committee  In fact, we think that the $2 billion will be enough to support provinces and territories in reducing the surgical backlogs. We've done some analysis that is proxy-based, looking at the health human resources that would be required—

Health committee  Yes, the provinces have been asking for that. Indeed they have. The $2 billion in the one-time top-up, as we said, will support them in addressing a surgical backlog.