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Health

Question period exchanges about PrescribeIT, a digital prescription program, and how $300 million in public money was spent on it. Conservatives asked for the health minister and the head of the program to testify, asked for an audit, and questioned whether an upcoming health committee meeting would be open to the public. Liberals replied that the questions had been answered before, that Infoway’s CEO had been dismissed and its mandate is under review, with funding decisions to follow, and said Conservatives were blocking committee work, including a study on HIV in Manitoba. Much of the exchange was about each party’s conduct in committee rather than the program itself.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

6 statements

Helena Konanz

Conservative

Linked statement

“The government wasted 300 million dollars on a digital prescription program. I want the health minister and the head of the program to testify in a public hearing about what happened.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, 300 million tax dollars were wasted on PrescribeIT. Liberal members of the health committee have refused every request to answer why or how. The Minister of Health and the CEO must testify. Canadians want to know how their tax dollars were wasted on this boondoggle. Will the Liberal minister agree it is time to stop the secrets, keep the cameras on and investigate PrescribeIT in public?

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Maggie Chi

Liberal
“The minister has already answered this question many times. Infoway fired its CEO, and we supported that decision. We are now reviewing Infoway to make sure it helps share health data with Canadians. We will decide on its funding after that review.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, as the member knows, the minister has answered this question many times in question period and many times during committee work. We have been very open and transparent. Infoway has dismissed the CEO. We supported that decision. We are also reviewing the Infoway mandate to make sure it aligns with opening up health data for Canadians. The funding decision will be made after the review.

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Helena Konanz

Conservative
“The Liberals keep turning off the cameras and hiding records when we ask for an audit. We want to investigate 300 million dollars wasted on PrescribeIT. Will the Liberals let the public watch the meeting on Tuesday, or will they turn the cameras off again?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I would take that member more seriously if she did not keep turning the cameras off and voting to seal committee records for 30 years when we call for an audit. Conservatives have been clear that we will work through the summer to get a full accounting on $300 million wasted on PrescribeIT, but they must leave the cameras on. Canadians want to know: Will they hear about PrescribeIT on Tuesday or will the Liberal parliamentary secretary turn the cameras off again?

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Maggie Chi

Liberal
“The Conservatives have spent over 20 hours delaying our plan to study HIV in Manitoba. They do not really care about Canadians' health.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

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  • Government answer in Question Period

    Signal 26 of 100

    Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, as the Conservatives farm outrage, we are working hard on behalf of Canadians. I am glad that member brought it up. That party has spent over 20 hours obstructing a Liberal motion to study HIV in Manitoba. How can they claim they care about Canadians’ health when they block motions like that? I think Canadians can see the difference. Some hon. members: Oh, oh!

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Burton Bailey

Conservative
“Liberals on the health committee are blocking an investigation into PrescribeIT to hide a 300 million dollar scandal. I want them to stop blocking it.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the $300 million Liberal cover-up continues. Liberals at the health committee continue blocking the investigation into PrescribeIT and hoping Canadians forget about the scandal that is turning into a possible contempt of Parliament. Even the Liberals were frustrated when they did not get answers from disgraced former CEO Michael Green, but then the Prime Minister yelled, “Be quiet,” and the cover-up began. When will the Liberals at the health committee find their spine and finally end the cover-up?

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Maggie Chi

Liberal
“Conservatives are delaying important work in Parliament. For example, they are blocking a study on the HIV crisis in Manitoba.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, Canadians can see how the Conservatives are behaving in the House and in committee with them filibustering important motions, like studying the HIV public health crisis in Manitoba. We can see the difference, and I think Canadians can, too.

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