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During question period, Conservatives pressed the health minister on Canada Health Infoway and its PrescribeIT digital prescription program, saying the program spent $300 million without results and questioning a reported million-dollar severance package for the former CEO, Michael Green, including benefits and a performance payment. They also asked why the minister announced that a $50 million payment would be halted but her office later indicated the money would still go out, and they urged the government to cancel further funding. The minister replied that because the matter is before the courts she could not comment on the severance, said Infoway has received no funding this year, and said Health Canada is awaiting the results of an independent audit and organizational review before determining next steps.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

7 statements

Dan Mazier

Conservative

Linked statement

“A fired health agency head got a million-dollar payout after wasting 300 million dollars of public money. The health minister's official sits on the board that approved it. I want the minister to tell us if her official voted to give him that money.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the cost of the $300-million PrescribeIT scandal just went up again. Conservatives have obtained the termination letter sent to Michael Green, the disgraced CEO in charge of the Liberals’ PrescribeIT failure. According to the letter, Mr. Green was awarded a million-dollar severance package, including another massive performance bonus. The million-dollar package was approved by Canada Health Infoway. The health minister’s official is a member of Canada Health Infoway’s board. Did the minister’s official vote to reward Michael Green with more tax dollars after he already wasted $300 million?

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Marjorie Michel

Liberal
“I cannot comment because this is before the courts. We are waiting for the independent review of this organization, and we will decide what to do next based on what it finds.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 48 of 100

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

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, as this matter is before the courts, we have no comment. More broadly, we look forward to seeing the outcome of the Infoway third party audit and organizational review. We will base our next steps on those results.

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Matt Strauss

Conservative
“The minister can answer my question because the rules of Parliament protect her. The government wasted 300 million dollars of public money on a failed health program, and taxpayers got nothing for it.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, she has parliamentary privilege, so she can answer questions like that, no matter what court they are in front of. This is Canadians’ money. Canada Health Infoway has blown $300 million on its failed PrescribeIT program. Taxpayers got nothing— Some hon. members: Oh, oh!

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Matt Strauss

Conservative
“Canada Health Infoway wasted 300 million dollars on a digital prescription program. The minister said she would stop a planned 50 million dollar payment to them, but her office later said they would still get the money. I want to know which is true, and why she will not cancel this funding for good.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, they spent $300 million on PrescribeIT. In response to my question on June 8, she announced she would halt the $50 million she planned to give Canada Health Infoway this year. On June 18, her spokesman, Alexandre Bergeron, told The Globe and Mail that they actually are going to give the $50 million away to this totally incompetent organization after all. Which is it and why? Why will she not permanently save Canadians this money?

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Marjorie Michel

Liberal
“We have not given Infoway any money this year. We want to spend tax dollars wisely. We are waiting for an outside review and audit of Infoway before we decide what to do next.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we remain committed to ensuring value for taxpayer money. Infoway has received no funding this year. Health Canada is currently examining the next steps. As I said, more broadly, we look forward to seeing the outcome of the Infoway third party audit and organizational review before considering the next steps.

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Matt Strauss

Conservative
“The head of Canada Health Infoway was paid $1 million a year and did nothing of value. Even after being fired, he is getting another year of pay and a bonus. He says he was fired so he could not speak to our committee. The government should not give this group another $50 million just to keep him quiet.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Canada Health Infoway CEO who oversaw this disaster, Michael Green, was paid $1 million a year to do nothing of value. Conservatives have obtained his termination letter. It says that Canada Health Infoway plans to give him another year’s worth of salary and $200,000 in performance pay, and continue his car allowance for this year. Michael Green now claims that he was fired in order to prevent him from testifying at the health committee. Is this why she is still thinking of giving Canada Health Infoway another $50 million? Is it to buy silence from this incompetent CEO?

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Marjorie Michel

Liberal
“Canada Health Infoway has received no money this year. Health Canada is deciding what to do next.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, as with the previous answer, Infoway has received no funding this year, and now Health Canada is assessing the next steps.

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