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House of Commons
HANSARD
March 20, 2013
Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP):
Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives are failing our health care system.
The latest report from the Canadian Institute for Health Information shows that wait times for priority surgeries are still too long. This is despite clear commitments that were made in the health accords.
This utter mismanagement of Canada’s health care system is simply unacceptable and the minister must be held to account. How much longer do Canadians have to wait before she takes action?
Will the minister admit that she has no respect for the accords at all?
Hon. Leona Aglukkaq (Minister of Health, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency and Minister of the Arctic Council, CPC):
Mr. Speaker, we respect the provinces and the territorial jurisdiction in the area of health care to help the provinces and territories address the issue of wait times. We have made targeted investments of $6.5 billion. We are also providing a long-term stable funding arrangement that will see transfers reach a historic level of $40 billion. Our government will continue to work with the provinces and territories on wait times in priority areas such as cancer care, cardiac care, and diagnostic testing.