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Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 147

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
December 13, 2022 10:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 147 - Dec/13/22
Mr. Jagmeet Singh (Burnaby South, NDP)
  • Dec/13/22 12:02:26 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I am requesting an emergency debate concerning the state of children's hospitals and health care as it relates to children in our country. We have heard the serious news that in Ottawa, the nation's capital, the Red Cross had to be called in to assist at the children's hospital. The Red Cross is called when there is a disaster. In Alberta, trailers have been set up in front of children's hospitals because of the demand and over-crowding in children's hospitals. Children are dying because of respiratory illnesses. We have heard heartbreaking stories from health care professionals about how bad the system is. We need a debate to lay out how serious the crisis is, to hear the stories and the experiences of health care workers and patients, and to chart a course to protect our health care system. We need to keep it publicly administered and ensure that everyone gets the care they need, particularly children, as they are being impacted hard right now. That is why I am requesting an emergency debate in the House today.
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Context: House Hansard - 147 - Dec/13/22
Hon. Jean-Yves Duclos (Minister of Health, Lib.)
  • Dec/13/22 2:41:58 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for raising that issue. The situation has indeed been very difficult for sick people, patients and workers across the country, including Quebec, for many months now. The situation was exacerbated by COVID-19, and the demographic pressures are such that, for the past few years, we have been seeing increased pressure on our health care workers and patients across the country. That is also what will happen in the long term. That is why we need to do things differently. Sending unconditional transfers to the provincial finance ministers is not a health care plan.
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