Health

Question period focused on PrescribeIT, a federal digital prescriptions program. Conservative members said about $300 million was spent on the program with little to show for it, that Liberal MPs had halted health committee meetings, turned off cameras, and blocked the health minister from testifying, and they asked why the minister gave the responsible organization another $50 million despite its record. The health minister said the Conservatives were the ones blocking committee business, specifically a study on HIV and AIDS, said she had already answered questions about the program, and noted that budgeting $50 million is not the same as actually paying it out, adding that the organization’s mandate is under review and that Canada still needs better health data systems.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text (opens in a new tab)

6 statements

Dan Mazier, Riding Mountain

Conservative
“A digital prescription program failed after the government spent $300 million on it. Liberal MPs are shutting down committee meetings and stopping the health minister from testifying. Why are the Liberals blocking an investigation into this waste of money?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, documents now reveal that the Liberals’ $300-million PrescribeIT failure processed fewer than 5% of prescriptions at its peak. That means that, after burning through $300 million, PrescribeIT failed to deliver 95% of prescriptions. When Conservatives on the health committee tried to investigate, Liberal MPs turned off the cameras. Then they abruptly shut down meetings. Yesterday, they blocked an emergency meeting to prevent the health minister from testifying. Why are the Liberals blocking the health committee from investigating the $300-million PrescribeIT scandal?

Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health

Liberal
“The Conservatives keep blocking our committee's study on HIV. I do not think they care about health issues. They should let our committee work move forward.”
  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 0 of 100

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

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I am wondering why the Conservatives keep blocking the committee study on HIV. I do not think the Conservatives are all that interested in health issues. Since I have spoken with them several times about PrescribeIT, perhaps they could let the committee work move forward before we talk about that again.

Helena Konanz, Similkameen—South Okanagan—West Kootenay

Conservative
“The government wasted 300 million dollars on a digital prescription program. They are shutting down committee meetings and blocking the minister from testifying. I want to know why they are stopping us from investigating this.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals are denying Canadians transparency on the $300 million that was wasted on PrescribeIT. At the health committee, they turned off the cameras, shut down meetings and blocked the minister from testifying. Conservatives are prepared to work through the summer to get to the bottom of this scandal. Why are the Liberals blocking the health committee from investigating this $300-million PrescribeIT failure?

Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health

Liberal

Linked statement

“The Conservatives are blocking a committee study on AIDS because they do not care about this crisis. I have already answered their questions.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I will say it again: The Conservatives are blocking the committee’s study on AIDS because they are not interested in this country-wide crisis. Meanwhile, I appeared before the Standing Committee on Finance the day before yesterday and a Conservative member asked me questions about the PrescribeIT program, which I answered. I believe I have answered the Conservatives’ questions.

Matt Strauss, Kitchener South—Hespeler

Conservative
“An organization wasted $300 million on a health program and achieved nothing in 10 years. Its CEO was just fired for running it so poorly. I want the health minister to explain why she gave this same group another $50 million this year.”
  • Opposition question in Question Period

    Respect 84 of 100

    This statement targeted a person rather than their actions or views: “She knows that PrescribeIT was a $300-million waste”.

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  • Opposition question in Question Period

    Clarity 17 of 100

    Much of this statement used imprecise wording, lacked details on timing or responsibility, or made broad claims without support.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, here is a question the Minister of Health has never answered. She knows that PrescribeIT was a $300-million waste of taxpayer money. She knows the organization in charge of that program was so badly run she had to get the CEO fired just last month. Given that she knows all this, what I cannot understand is why she would give that same organization, one that cannot point to one tangible thing it has accomplished in 10 years, another $50 million of taxpayer money this year? It does not make sense.

Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health

Liberal
“Planning to spend $50 million is not the same as actually paying it out. I did not know this group was given money. We are reviewing what this group does, but Canada still needs better health data systems.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I was unaware that I had given the organization money. There is a big difference between budgeting for $50 million and actually disbursing it. What I want to say to the opposition is that, as I already told them, we are currently reviewing the organization’s mandate. At the same time, I would argue that, yes, Canadians need connected health systems. We need health data infrastructure across the country.

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