Addressing the Health Portfolio's 2009-10 Main Estimates before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health

Speech for The Hon. Leona Aglukkaq

Minister of Health

May 14, 2009

Ottawa, Ontario

Introduction

Good afternoon, Madame Chair and Members of the Committee.

It's my pleasure to be with you once again.

With me today, from Health Canada : Deputy Minister Morris Rosenberg; and Chief Financial Officer Alfred Tsang.

And from the Public Health Agency of Canada : Chief Public Health Officer David Butler-Jones; and Chief Financial Officer James Libbey.

I'm here to address the Health Portfolio's Main Estimates for this fiscal year, which represent an increase of approximately $236 million.

I also want to talk about how our spending and legislative priorities support a stronger focus on the federal role in the health and well-being of Canadians.

In particular, this year's Main Estimates include investments supporting:

• Stronger product safety;
• Further recruitment of new health researchers; and
• Better health outcomes for First Nations and Inuit.

H1N1 Flu Virus

But before going any further, I want to address our response to the H1N1 flu virus.

For the better part of a month, public health officials in Canada and throughout the world have been monitoring the development of this virus and responding according to the level of risk.

Thankfully, the impact on Canada has been relatively mild so far.

But let me be clear: We cannot afford to let our guard down.

H1N1 is a new strain of influenza.

As a result, we can't be sure of the next turn it will take.

So we will stay vigilant and be ready to respond as necessary. Canadians can take comfort in the fact that we have a well-informed, well-supported and well-developed Pandemic Preparedness plan.

We will continue working with the provinces, territories and international partners - and learning from the data we collect and the research we conduct at the National Microbiology Laboratory.

As precautions, we:

• issued a travel warning advising against non-essential travel to Mexico ;
• stationed more quarantine officers at Canadian airports that receive direct flights from Mexico ; and
• distributed health alert notices to travellers - over 1.5 million a week.

I also want to highlight the achievements of researchers at the National Microbiology Lab who made an important discovery last week by sequencing the genome of Mexican and Canadian samples of this virus -- essentially decoding its genetic make-up.

This discovery has provided important information for researchers around the world.

With this knowledge, we were able to eliminate genetic mutation as a possible reason for why the virus has apparently hit Mexico harder than Canada .

I dentifying the nature and composition of this virus will also help with vaccine development.

Health Canada experts are working with a vaccine manufacturer on the initial steps toward developing a vaccine.

However, it is internationally acknowledged that producing a safe and effective vaccine could take up to six months.

It is imperative that we balance the need for speed with quality and safety.

In the meantime, should the situation dictate, we have safe and effective anti-viral stockpiles at the ready.

Madame Chair, let me say that so long as this situation persists, we will remain vigilant.

As we have from day one, we will keep Canadians well-informed and well-advised as important details emerge.

We are constantly considering the effectiveness of everything we do so we can make adjustments.

And we will continue to provide the leadership Canadians need and deserve.

Providing leadership in protecting the health of Canadians against infectious disease is a key federal health responsibility.

It's one we are committed to fulfilling.

Modernizing our product safety regime

As you know, our government has pledged to improve our ability to meet another key federal health responsibility. I'm referring to our commitment to modernize our safety system for consumer, food and health products.

Some of the essential changes we seek are represented in Bill C-6, Canada 's Consumer Product Safety Act.

This is important legislation that will bring our consumer product safety regime in line with the realities of today's global economy.

Of course, amendments to the Food and Drugs Act remain part of our Food and Consumer Safety Action Plan.

Before presenting this legislation, we will await any food safety recommendations that may come from either the Parliamentary Sub-Committee on Food Safety or the Independent Listeria Investigator.

But for now, I want to thank the Members of this Committee for your careful review of C-6.

I also want to thank you for your thoughtful input on Bill C-11, the Human Pathogens and Toxins Act . That legislation has been improved, thanks to the work of this Committee.

The Bill will increase the bio-safety and security at Canadian laboratories that work with human pathogens and toxins.

Please let me thank all Members for their efforts in putting forward important changes to this Bill at Committee.

I join you all in hoping for the quick passage of both C-6 and C-11 through the Senate, toward gaining Royal Assent.

The sooner this happens; the sooner the health of Canadians will be better protected.

Recruiting the research talent of tomorrow

Of course, research is essential to finding new ways of protecting and improving Canadians' health.

It's for this reason that our Government is providing further support to the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

This government is committed to supporting innovation and research

Budget 2009, or Canada 's Economic Action Plan, contained some $5.1 billion in science investments.

In terms of health research, since 2006, CIHR has benefited from $117.2 million of permanent budget increases and a further $154.6 million in time-limited, targeted funding, supporting priorities such as pandemic preparedness.

Furthermore, I'm proud to say that this year's Main Estimates include greater investment in scholarship programs, designed to recruit and develop the health research stars of tomorrow.

And Budget 2009 commits even more.

In the past, CIHR-funded research has led to improvements in cancer treatment, cardiac care and patient safety.

As a result, I'm confident that the investments we're making today to attract new talent will lead to new, significant health improvements in the future.

Making new investments in health for First Nations and Inuit

This year's Main Estimates also include new investments for better First Nations and Inuit health - today.

As I said at the opening, we're dedicated to sharpening our focus on federal responsibilities.

And among the most important within my Portfolio is ensuring the availability of health care services for First Nations and Inuit.

Today, health disparities between Aboriginal communities and the rest of Canada are apparent, and it's our goal to reduce them.

As a result, these Main Estimates invest more than $200 million for core First Nations and Inuit health programs, services and infrastructure to better meet frontline demands.

Strategic Review

Madame Chair, indeed, these investments represent a clear focus on federal responsibility - one of my Portfolio's primary objectives since 2006. And future decisions will continue to be made along this line.

Accordingly, this same approach was taken during the Health Portfolio's strategic review process.

In February, I know Members of this Committee had questions regarding this - and my officials and I are committed to discuss details with you today.

Across the Portfolio , Health Canada , the Public Health Agency and CIHR carefully reviewed their programs to ensure their efficiency and effectiveness.

The goal was to reallocate funding to better meet Canadians' needs.

In doing so, officials were asked to:

• p ropose ways for making programs and services more effective and efficient.
• focus on providing programs that are consistent with federal roles and responsibilities; and
• align federal activities with the needs and priorities of Canadians.

In terms of results, the Portfolio will realize the following savings: $44.6 million in 2009-10, $61.7 million in 2010-11, and $108.4 million in 2011-12.

Additionally, in February, some Committee Members feared there would be cuts to important Aboriginal and women's health programs.

I'm happy to say that these fears were unfounded .

In fact, our changes and the reinvestments we were able to make as a result will improve our ability to protect the health and safety of Canadians .

For example, Budget 2009 included:

• $35 million over three years to CIHR through the Canada Graduate Scholarship Program to support more future research stars;
• A total of $440 million for First Nations and Inuit health care and infrastructure; and
• $500 million to accelerate the use of electronic health records in Canada - which will lead to higher-quality, more effective health care.

Madame Chair, these are important investments, which are in line with the priorities of Canadians.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I want to take a moment to salute my officials and all employees who have worked so hard in responding to the challenge of the H1N1 flu virus.

I also want to thank our partners, both international and within Canada , for their ongoing collaboration.

Let me also thank the Committee for your work, past, present and future.

I look forward to the observations that will come from your study on Health Human Resources, as well as the new subcommittee that will study the impact of neurological diseases.

As we take further action to sharpen the focus on the federal role in health, I look forward to your ideas.

Finally, thank you all for accepting my invitation to visit Nunavut later this month.

In my February appearance before this committee, I said that "Our vision needs to extend north of 60 if we want it to be truly national."

This will represent the first time in history that the Health Committee has visited my home territory.

And so, I thank you for accepting my invitation to broaden our perspective to account for the full vastness of the country we all love so much.

Thank you, and I look forward to your questions.