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Adjournment Proceedings

2026-06-08 Sitting 131 Showing 1–2 of 2

Conservative MP Matt Strauss asked Liberal MP Maggie Chi about the independence and oversight of Canada Health Infoway, a government-funded non-profit. Strauss repeatedly pressed for clear yes-or-no answers on specifics like the health minister's power over the CEO. Chi mostly talked around the questions, pivoting to government talking points on modernizing health data sharing and accusing Strauss of obstruction at committee. As usual, not a ton came out of late-night Adjournment Proceedings.

Official Hansard ↗

Matt Strauss

Conservative 11:15 p.m.

“I'm here late trying to get a straight answer about who's in charge of this expensive program. The minister won't give clear answers. It matters because it's taxpayer money. Is she responsible for it or not? Taxpayers have the power to fire us all. Why won't she answer? I'm hopeful, but this is frustrating.”

Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, it is a great pleasure to be here so late. I am hoping that if some of the Liberals get sleepy enough, perhaps they will accidentally answer the questions and provide some light on what has gone on at PrescribeIT. We are here for this particular adjournment proceeding question because, on May 28, I pointed out to the health minister that she said in the House that she had spoken to the board of Canada Health Infoway, and subsequently that caused its million‑dollar CEO, Michael Green, to be fired. The only problem is that the chairman of that board said that the Minister of Health had never spoken to the board, so there was a clear discrepancy. We raised as a question of privilege at the committee that somebody was clearly not telling the truth. The minister responded during that question period, saying she meant that she had spoken with her representative on the board, so in a follow-up question, I asked if her representative had spoken to the chairman of the board. She said she was “not going to get into who said what”. Well, why on earth not? This matters. It is important, because it has to do with how the organization is governed. The next thing the minister said during that question period was that “Canada Health Infoway is a separate entity from the government.” Is that true? How can it possibly be true? If the minister appoints the board chair, subsequently appoints a direct representative of herself on the board and then gives instructions to that representative to fire the CEO, how on earth can the organization be said to be independent? I think, honestly, that this is how organizations come to be poorly governed. This is how they come to blow $300 million on a program that did not work but that should have been billed successfully for $5 million. The minister is making a Schrödinger’s cat out of responsibility. If she does something good, such as fire the million‑dollar CEO, that is because she is in charge, but if the organization does something bad, then suddenly it is at arm's length and she has no control over it. This cannot go on. Is she responsible for what goes on at Canada Health Infoway, or is she not? Is she responsible for how it spends taxpayers' money, or is she not? Does she have the power to fire the CEO, or does she not? I will tell the House who has the power to fire all of us: the taxpayer. Why will the minister not say who said what in the chamber, so the taxpayers can make a decision about who needs to be fired? Why will she not come to committee to answer these questions instead of sending attachés who, frankly, do not answer these questions when we ask? However, I am hopeful tonight, so here we go.

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Matt Strauss

Conservative 11:15 p.m.

“I asked specific questions but you're not giving straight answers. You're wasting the House's time and taxpayers' money by keeping the chamber open late but dodging questions. I want the minister to clearly explain what power she has over Canada Health Infoway. You should give clear answers to respect the voters and the House.”

Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I asked several very specific questions. I asked whether Canada Health Infoway is independent or not. I asked whether the Minister of Health has oversight on its funding or not. I asked whether the Minister of Health has the power to fire the CEO of Canada Health Infoway or not. I have asked whether the minister would come to health committee to explain these things in more detail. The member did not answer even one of those questions. It is 11 p.m. It costs money to keep the chamber open. Tens of thousands of people voted for me so I could ask these questions. Tens of thousands of people voted for the member so she could answer these questions. Why will she not just answer them and respect the House, respect the Speaker and respect the mace?

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