What they said. What they meant.

Plain-language translations from the House of Commons.

Recent debates

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Oral Questions

Health

A bill to make health information technology like electronic prescription systems interoperable and stop vendors from blocking data sharing. During discussion, the Conservatives questioned the Liberals on why a past $300 million electronic prescription program was shut down with little to show for it, while the Liberals said they ended it to save money and pitched their new bill as the solution.

Official Hansard ↗

Dan Mazier

Conservative
“I want to make the government look wasteful. I'm demanding an investigation into a $300 million program that failed.”
Our translation 78% shorter

Hon. Marjorie Michel

Liberal
“We already ended it. I don't want to dwell on a failure. I'm not giving you any more details about where the money went.”
Our translation 66% shorter

Dan Mazier

Conservative
“I think the government wasted $300 million. I don't believe their excuse. I want an investigation.”
Our translation 81% shorter

Hon. Marjorie Michel

Liberal
“We only ended the program because not enough people were using it. I want taxpayers to believe that we made the right choice and saved their money.”
Our translation 27% shorter

Helena Konanz

Conservative
“I want the Auditor General to investigate what happened to the $300 million spent on PrescribeIT. The Liberals are preventing Canadians from finding out where the money went.”
Our translation 58% shorter

Hon. Marjorie Michel

Liberal
“I want you to support our health care bill. It isn't related to this question but I'm going to talk about it anyway.”
Our translation 61% shorter