Health  Mr. Speaker, I agree. We believe that all one should need to get health care in Canada is a health card, not a credit card. Canadians are proud of our system, which is based on need, not ability to pay. Canadians should have access to medical services based on their need, not their ability to pay.

Health  Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the question from my colleague and his collaboration on the health committee. We believe, on this side of the House, that all that people should need in order to get health care is their health card, not their credit card. We will always stand up for Canada's universal, public health care.

Health committee  This is a super-important topic of conversation, and we're really grateful for all of your expertise. I'm going to focus the first half of my questions on childhood obesity and the role that poverty and the lack of physical activity interventions play in contributing to childhood obesity. We know that kids in the United States suffer disproportionately from obesity and fewer opportunities to be physically active and healthy.

Business of Supply  Madam Speaker, the concept of equity versus equality is one that is lost on some members of the House. It is important to note that some Canadians do live in disparate conditions. They live far away from hospitals and have less access to services, to resources and to a family doctor. We have to ensure that everybody has service and access to the exact same system, and we have to make sure outcomes are the same.

Health  Our government has always worked to protect Canadians. We have adapted our COVID-19 response based on the latest science and evidence. Designated quarantine facilities met public health guidelines for the purposes of accommodating travellers to quarantine as required by emergency orders under the Quarantine Act.

Health  We will always be there to support our universal public health care system.

Health  Mr. Speaker, perhaps my colleague did not hear me when I said that we will always stand up for our fundamental public universal health care. I will say it again: We will always stand up for our public universal health care. Our government remains ready to work with the provinces and territories to further discuss priorities, actions and results to improve health services for all Canadians.

Health committee  I think that's an important consideration, if we're talking about millions or billions of dollars here or there. I think personally that social costs in the long term greatly outweigh any investments we can make in kids today. My questions are going to be primarily around resiliency and building resiliency in the early years for children. First, is there any research indicating the impacts of access to sport, physical activity and recreation and positive team experiences for kids?

Health  She has been an extraordinarily rational and cogent voice in the House throughout the pandemic, and I thank her for her work in holding the government to account. Our government remains committed to evolving our public health response as situations change, and as public health demands change, we will adapt to the needs of Canadians and apply appropriate measures at the border and monitor compliance with public health measures to prevent infection and to ensure that we continue to be a safe country for—

Questions on the Order Paper  Speaker, Budget 2022 proposed funding of $5.3 billion over five years, starting in 2022-23, and $1.7 billion ongoing for a national dental care program for Canadians who earn under $90,000. The interim Canada Dental Benefit is the first stage of the Government’s plan to improve dental care for Canadians in families with an adjusted net income under $90,000.

Health  Madam Speaker, we share the deep concerns that Canadians have regarding the significant challenges that our health care system is experiencing, and we recognize that urgent actions are necessary to address the current health care worker crisis.

Health committee  Second, this was an observation I made earlier in the meeting. I feel that when we have hybrid meetings with witnesses both online and in person, the natural inclination for us as MPs is to focus on the people here in the room, which is normal, but it puts people online at a disadvantage.

Health  Mr. Speaker, let me be clear: Canadians are proud of our system, and this government is too. It is based on need and not the ability to pay, and we believe that all one should need in order to get health care is a health card, not a credit card.

Questions on the Order Paper  Additionally, we are working closely with PSPC and vaccine suppliers to ensure that delivery schedules meet the needs of Canadians and to monitor vaccine shelf-life/expiry date extensions to maximize the use of doses delivered in Canada.

Health  While more funding is needed, we also need to spend smarter. Canada spends more of its GDP on health care than the OECD average. We can tackle inefficiencies in the system and use innovative approaches and tools to both improve health outcomes for Canadians and also improve cost-effectiveness, because Canadians demand that of us as well.