Discussion · Government Orders
Luc Thériault Bloc Québécois
“The federal government still does not pay its fair share for health care. This bill lets the minister force federal health rules on Quebec using regulations we have not seen. The minister claims she respects Quebec's powers. We want to add an amendment to the bill that protects Quebec's jurisdiction. I am asking my colleague if he thinks the government will accept our amendment.”
“Madam Speaker, my colleague was right to raise the whole issue of chronic underfunding in health care, the lack of federal funding, and the federal government’s fundamental inability to shoulder its fair share. Going back to the bill, under clause 7, which my colleague mentioned, the bill would apply, by order, to a province such as Quebec if the minister determines that Quebec’s existing measures do not meet the criteria. Whatever she wants to do, she will do by enforcing regulations that we have not seen, that we will never see, and that she can also amend at her discretion, by order. The minister told us that she respects the way things are being done in Quebec. My colleague argued that the preamble should explicitly state that the minister intends to respect Quebec’s constitutional jurisdiction. Can he tell us whether he is convinced that the minister’s commitment will lead to a willingness to accept an amendment proposed by the Bloc Québécois?”
Madam Speaker, my colleague was right to raise the whole issue of chronic underfunding in health care, the lack of federal funding, and the federal government’s fundamental inability to shoulder its fair share. Going back to the bill, under clause 7, which my colleague mentioned, the bill would apply, by order, to a province such as Quebec if the minister determines that Quebec’s existing measures do not meet the criteria. Whatever she wants to do, she will do by enforcing regulations that we have not seen, that we will never see, and that she can also amend at her discretion, by order. The minister told us that she respects the way things are being done in Quebec. My colleague argued that the preamble should explicitly state that the minister intends to respect Quebec’s constitutional jurisdiction. Can he tell us whether he is convinced that the minister’s commitment will lead to a willingness to accept an amendment proposed by the Bloc Québécois?