For an appearance before the Standing Committee on Health (HESA) on Main Estimates - the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq Minister of Health

Thursday, April 18, 2013
Ottawa, Ontario

Good morning, everyone.

Madam Chair, members of the committee: it's a pleasure to be here to discuss the Main Estimates for the health portfolio.

With me today are Glenda Yeates, Krista Outhwaite, Dr. Greg Taylor and James Roberge.

Over the past year, this committee has discussed and considered many of this country's most important health issues.

During my last appearance before the Committee in November I highlighted our Government's efforts to reduce the deficit, and our emphasis on protecting the front-line services within the Health Portfolio.

I am pleased to report that we have honoured and continue to follow through on these commitments.

Madam Chair, we remain committed to sound financial management. Building on Budget 2012 commitments, we are increasing effectiveness and efficiencies across the portfolio. We are reducing redundancies and aligning efforts where possible.

And we are focussing on core mandates to help us meet emerging demands and adapt to new realities.

The Main Estimates for the health portfolio represent a net decrease of $104.9million over last year. This decrease is mainly due to savings identified as part of the Economic Action Plan 2012, and sun-setting programs.

However, for a more complete picture of the future direction of the Health Portfolio we also need to consider the government's investments in health as outlined within Economic Action Plan 2013.

As highlighted in Economic Action Plan 2013, our government invests over $2.4 billion annually for First Nations and Inuit health including primary health care in on-reserve communities as well as non-insured health benefits.

On top of this investment, Economic Action plan 2013 provides $52 million over the next two years to improve access to quality health services for First Nations and Inuit.

This funding will help expand electronic health services - including telehealth - within remote and isolated First Nations communities.  And it will further expand the number of accredited health facilities on reserve as well as mental wellness teams.

This funding is on top of the over $90 million in Main Estimates that  will also be dedicated to the continued implementation of both the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement and the First Nations Water and Wastewater Action Plan.

Once these funds are added in future Supplementary Estimates, the Health Portfolio's planned spending for 2013-14 will increase over the 2013 Main Estimates levels.

Our Government has once again confirmed that health remains a key federal priority.

As confirmed in Economic Action Plan 2013, this government will not balance the budget on the backs of the provinces and territories.

We are on a sustainable long term track for health transfers to provinces and territories that will see funding reach a record high of $30.3 billion this year and continue to grow. This will help ensure health care services are there for Canadian families when needed.

Federal action on health doesn't stop at annual transfers. The federal government remains the largest single-investor in Canadian health innovation, primarily through grants made by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

And we are supporting ongoing health innovation with advanced research, through an additional ongoing investment of $15 million per year for Canada's Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research. This will help ensure patients are placed at the centre of care.

The federal role in health extends far beyond health care services.

This week, I delivered a keynote address about how our Government is supporting Canadian families.

I announced several important new initiatives that demonstrate how we are strengthening the safety of consumer products, food and drugs.

Today, I would like to echo those remarks, in the context of the Estimates and our priorities moving forward.

Canadians expect that products they find on store shelves will be safe. From a regulatory standpoint, I'm very proud that the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act is in full force.

This Act includes a general prohibition against the supply of dangerous products.

This is a safety net that provides our Government with the ability to rapidly respond when we identify a clear danger. 

Health Canada is always on the lookout for emerging threats to health. For example, it's clear that some products containing small, powerful magnets pose a danger to children.

These magnets are found in some novelty sets and some children's toys. If more than one magnet is swallowed in a short period of time, the results can be very serious......even fatal.

Under the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act, Health Canada is taking action to identify these dangerous products and contacting companies to have the products removed from the marketplace.

Our Government wants to make sure playpens remain safe which is why Health Canada is proposing to strengthen regulations for playpens, including the addition of new requirements for playpen accessories.

This will result in the application of even higher standards to their construction and safety features.

I also noted this week that the safety of our medications is also of vital importance to Canadians and their families.

That's why we're improving safety standards. 

We're ensuring hospitals have strong systems in place for reporting adverse reactions.

And we're working with industry to improve drug naming practices to reduce the number of products that are confused because their names look or sound alike.  This will help Canadians better understand what they're taking, and prevent dangerous mix-ups of drugs.

With regard to natural health products, we have listened to industry and consumers, and have streamlined our approaches while maintaining safety as our top priority.

This means Canadians will benefit from access to over 60,000 authorized products.

Canadians need to know that the products they buy, use and eat are subject to strict safety standards.

They need to know that their governments can detect and correct problems quickly.

And they need to know the information and labelling they see is helpful and accurate.

This is particularly true with food safety.

For people with food allergies, for example, proper labelling is essential.

Now, when people shop for groceries, they will find more straightforward ingredient labels. 

These labels declare allergens and gluten sources that may not have been disclosed in the past.

It's about helping Canadian families get the information they need to make healthy and safe choices.

In terms of emergency preparedness we continue to be prepared to respond to a range of public health.

Most recently we have been monitoring events related to H7N9 in China. While the risk to Canadians remains low at this time, we continue to share information with the public, communicate with our public health expert in China, and work in close collaboration with our many partners.

I'm also proud to report that we are expanding our food-borne illness surveillance program, known as C-EnterNet, with a third surveillance site. This is one way we're able to track food-borne illnesses and their sources, and to help prevent diseases from occurring.

Through close collaboration between the Public Health Agency, Health Canada and all our food safety and surveillance partners, we are committed to providing Canadians with the best possible food safety protection.

We've also demonstrated our commitment to protecting families when and where they need it. In partnership with the Heart and Stroke Foundation, we're going where Canadians are - to help ensure safe environments that are both active and healthy.

For example, earlier this year Prime Minister Harper announced a four-year initiative to support the installation of automated external defibrillators in hockey arenas across Canada.  It's one way we're reaching Canadians in their communities.  This is technology that we know works, is easy to use, and can help save lives.

We need to be there for Canadians when they want advice or guidance. That's why our Government is also tapping into the power and reach of social media.

HealthyCanadians.gc.ca allows even the busiest parent to stay informed.

The latest alerts on unsafe products, information on food, tips on nutrition or quitting smoking - it's all on the Healthy Canadians site, as a one-stop shop.

Madam Chair, families and all Canadians want their government to be that kind of partner in their health.

Not to lecture to them, not to interfere in their daily lives.

But to be there when they need it, to make sound policy decisions based on solid research, to provide practical and clear advice as the world around us changes.

Today I've outlined some of the ways we're partnering with families across this country.

And as we look to the year ahead, I'd like to thank all members for your hard work and shared commitment to Canadians.

If you have any questions this morning, I would be pleased to answer them.

Thank you, Madam Chair.