Business of Supply  Madam Speaker, I would hope that there would be detailed negotiations and discussions between Ottawa and provincial jurisdictions. Financing is a very important component of it. To try to give an impression that, when we net everything out, there would be a huge cost to society,

Business of Supply  Madam Speaker, I would suggest that the member needs a better understanding of how health care is administered in Canada. He says he was never an MLA, but as a member of Parliament, we have a responsibility to have an appreciation of how we administer health care, given the impor

Business of Supply  That is right, two years ago. Why is that? We have union movements. We have others who are saying, “We want to see a national pharmacare.” For the first time, and I have been around as a parliamentarian for 30 years, it is an issue that has really come to the top. This is becaus

Business of Supply  Madam Speaker, I will be splitting my time with the wonderful member for Brampton South. Allow me to start off by just expressing my appreciation. I want to acknowledge the fantastic work of our health care providers and researchers who have provided in a very professional manne

Business of Supply  Madam Speaker, I wonder if my colleague could provide her thoughts on how important it is that we work with the provinces to maximize the benefits of any sort of national pharmacare program. At the very least, we owe it to the provinces to have those detailed discussions. Other

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, there is an overwhelming amount of support in all regions of the country to have some form of pharmacare program, something that has been at the top of the public agenda for the last four or five years. When I address this issue a bit later, I will hopefully get the

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, since five years ago, when the Prime Minister, cabinet and the government caucus first sat around and started talking about the important issues Canadians have to deal with, we have often been told to raise concerns from our constituents, to bring them to our caucus.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, as the member knows, the Province of Quebec has demonstrated significant leadership on the whole pharmacare file, demonstrating exactly what a province can do. It is encouraging when we see that sort of leadership. I often hear my New Democrat friends refer to a 19

Opposition Motion—Pharmacare  Madam Speaker, the NDP are very much aware that in order for us to establish a national pharmacare program there is an obligation for the Government of Canada to work with our provinces and our territories. When the introducer of the motion came forward, he said that if the Provi

Opposition Motion—Pharmacare  Madam Speaker, I would like to emphasize what I believe we have been witnessing over the last number of years. Under this Prime Minister, we have had a progressive government that has dealt with issues like poverty, lifting seniors and children out of poverty. One way we can giv

Opposition Motion—Pharmacare  Madam Speaker, I listened to my friend's passion on the issue. The government under the leadership of the current Prime Minister has taken significant steps toward a national pharmacare program where people will be able to get prescribed medicines that they so badly need. I coul

Opposition Motion—Pharmacare  Madam Speaker, the member was here when we heard the Bloc talking about the pharmacare program in the province of Quebec. Much as Saskatchewan played a very important role in our having a strong national presence on a national health care program, I think that Quebec could play a

Opposition Motion—Pharmacare  Madam Speaker, Canada is a great nation with many different partners. We have provincial governments. The Saskatchewan government played a critical role in terms of the health care system we have today. In many ways, it played a leadership role to ultimately having a national hea

Opposition Motion—Pharmacare  Mr. Speaker, let me attempt to restore some faith in my colleague across the way. Colleagues want to make reference to Liberal promises over many years. Let me remind my colleague: The Prime Minister made a commitment to Canada's middle class to reduce taxes. That was done. We

Opposition Motion—Pharmacare  Mr. Speaker, for the first time we have a Prime Minister who understands the issues and challenges that many Canadians have with trying to decide between medication and food. Issues of poverty are very real and tangible. Our caucus has long been advocating to ensure that medica