Discussion · Government Orders
Mario Beaulieu Bloc Québécois
“This bill leaves out money for provincial health care. The federal government used to pay half of health care costs, but now it only pays 22%. We asked to guarantee a 6% yearly increase, but the bill does nothing. Next year that increase could drop to 3%, which would be a disaster for our struggling health care system. I want to hear my colleague's thoughts on this.”
“Mr. Speaker, I would like to hear my colleague’s thoughts on an important measure that is missing from Bill C-31: health transfers. Let us recall that the federal government once covered 50% of health care costs. Today, its share has fallen to 22%. With Bill C-31, we had asked to lock in a 6% health transfer escalator, but nothing has been done. Consequently, next year, that figure could fall to 3%. Our health care system is already struggling. If it were to fall to 3%, it would be catastrophic. What are my colleague’s thoughts on that?”
Official Hansard
Mr. Speaker, I would like to hear my colleague’s thoughts on an important measure that is missing from Bill C-31: health transfers. Let us recall that the federal government once covered 50% of health care costs. Today, its share has fallen to 22%. With Bill C-31, we had asked to lock in a 6% health transfer escalator, but nothing has been done. Consequently, next year, that figure could fall to 3%. Our health care system is already struggling. If it were to fall to 3%, it would be catastrophic. What are my colleague’s thoughts on that?