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Health

In question period on health, Conservatives pressed the government over PrescribeIT, an electronic prescription program that received $300 million through Canada Health Infoway and is being shut down. They said the money produced no results and asked the government to support an Auditor General investigation. Health Minister Marjorie Michel said the program, launched in 2017, was not being used and was supposed to become self-funded, so ending it saves taxpayers money. She also pointed to Bill S-5, the Connected Care for Canadians Act, as legislation that would help health information systems work together.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

6 statements

Dan Mazier

Conservative
“The Liberals spent $300 million on an electronic prescription program that failed and is being shut down. I want the Auditor General to investigate where this money went, and I want to know if the Liberals will support that investigation.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the health minister’s officials revealed that the Liberals spent $300 million on the PrescribeIT program with nothing to show for it. The Liberals promised that PrescribeIT would replace fax machines for prescription drugs, but now PrescribeIT is being quietly shut down after fewer than 5% of all prescriptions went through the program. No one can tell Canadians where the money went. Conservatives are calling on the Auditor General to investigate PrescribeIT. Will the Liberals support an investigation or will they continue their $300-million cover-up?

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Marjorie Michel

Liberal
“The prescription drug program started in 2017 did not work as well as expected. We ended it instead of spending more money on something that was not getting results.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 46 of 100

    None of this answer addressed the specific question that was asked.

    See full analysis
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, as members know, the previous government launched the prescription drug program in 2017 following consultations with the provinces and territories, but it was not as successful as anticipated. Rather than continuing to invest in a program that is not delivering results, we decided to end it. The opposition member is well aware of that, and we are working closely with the department to get the information regarding PrescribeIT.

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Dan Mazier

Conservative
“The government gave 300 million dollars to a health project that failed, and they kept funding it even after they knew it was failing. I want the government to support our motion to have the Auditor General investigate this.”

  • A repeated line

    “If the Liberals have nothing to hide.”

    Said 3 times by 2 members since April 27.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals gave $300 million to Canada Health Infoway for PrescribeIT. The taxpayer-funded CEO, Michael Green, testified at committee that the Canada Health Infoway board terminated PrescribeIT, yet the health minister claimed it was the Liberals. Officials also revealed that the Liberals kept shovelling millions into PrescribeIT even after they knew it was failing. This $300-million scandal is not adding up. If the Liberals have nothing to hide, will they support our motion to call the Auditor General in to investigate PrescribeIT?

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Marjorie Michel

Liberal
“We stopped funding PrescribeIT because people were not using it and it was supposed to pay for itself. This saves taxpayers money.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 48 of 100

    None of this answer addressed the specific question that was asked.

    See full analysis
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, PrescribeIT was always intended to become self-funded over time. Rather than putting money toward a program that people were not using, the decision was made to end it. This is how we save taxpayers’ money.

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Helena Konanz

Conservative

Linked statement

“The government spent $300 million to replace pharmacy fax machines, but it did not work. I want the health minister to let the Auditor General investigate where that money went.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, Canadians deserve accountability, as $300 million was spent on PrescribeIT to replace pharmacy fax machines, with nothing to show for it. Liberal obstruction at committee has prevented Canadians from finding out where the money went. That is enough. We need a full investigation. Will the Minister of Health agree to our call for the non-partisan Auditor General of Canada to investigate this $300-million boondoggle?

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Marjorie Michel

Liberal
“I want the House to support our health care bill when it arrives. It will help parts of the health care system share information and work together.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 46 of 100

    None of this answer addressed the specific question that was asked.

    See full analysis
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I would say that the Ministry of Health is there to support Canadians. I will tell you that challenges like this highlight the need for our connected care for Canadians act, which would break down silos in the health care system. I invite you to support Bill S-5, which will be coming to the House very soon.

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