OTTAWA REPORT

April 16, 2014 · 0 Comments

By Lois Brown, MP
Newmarket-Aurora

Myths and Facts: The Canadian Health Transfer
Unfortunately, there have been a lot of rumours and misinformation spread about federal health transfers. I would like to take this opportunity to set the record straight.
The federal government is committed to a publicly funded, universally accessible health care system founded on the principles of the Canada Health Act. In 2011, the Conservative government announced a major new investment in health care, and committed to continued growth in health transfers to the provinces and territories.
This plan has provided record growth to all provinces, and these transfers will continue to grow by 6% every year for the next three years. In 2014 – 2015, Ontario will receive $12.33 billion through the Canada Health Transfer – an all-time high and a 60% increase over the previous government.
These record transfers are providing long-term, stable funding so that our health care system is there when Canadians need it. To ensure health funding for the provinces continues to grow in a sustainable way, transfers will grow in line with the economy starting in 2017 and are guaranteed to increase by at least 3%. This record increase in funding will reach $40 billion by the end of the decade and provides stability and predictability to the system.
In addition to transfers being at an all-time high, we are also funding nearly 13,000 health researchers across Canada, and investing roughly $1 billion every year for health research. We have increased funding for health care in many other ways including by:
• Providing over $1 billion to reduce wait times.
• Achieving the highest level of physicians per capita in recent history.
• Providing $15M to expand patient-oriented research and to work towards finding a cure for dementia by 2025.
• Investing nearly $45M to expand the focus of the National Anti-Drug Strategy to include prescription drug abuse.
• Enacting further deterrents to discourage smoking.
• Improving supports for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
• Expanding health-related tax relief, including coverage of expenses for diabetes alert dogs.
• Investing up to $500 million through Canada’s Economic Action Plan to establish electronic health records.
• Introducing the Family Caregiver Tax Credit to support caregivers of infirm family members.
• Investing $6 million for palliative care.
• Investing over $1 billion for cancer research.
• Providing over $2 billion every year to improve the healthcare of Aboriginal Canadians.
• Proposing new measures for plain language labelling of drugs, and reporting requirements for adverse events reporting.
• Investing nearly $200 million in obesity related research, and establishing the Children’s Fitness Tax Credit to promote healthy and active living.
Through record transfers and significant investments we are supporting all provinces and territories in delivering the quality of care that Canadians expect.

Canadian Victims Bill of Rights
Prime Minister Stephen Harper recently announced the introduction of legislation to create a Canadian Victims Bill of Rights, which will create, at the federal level, clear rights for victims of crime – a first in Canadian history. It is our belief that the justice system must put the rights of victims ahead of the rights of criminals, including:
Right to information: Victims will have access to information about the justice system, victim services, and specific information about their case.
Right to protection: Victims will have their security and privacy protected during the criminal justice process.
Right to participation: Victims will be able to present a victim impact statement and have their views considered at various stages of the criminal justice process.
Right to restitution: Victims can ask the court to consider restitution when there are easy-to-calculate financial losses.
The Bill of Rights will ensure that victims have enforceable rights in Canada’s criminal justice system, be treated with the respect and fairness that they deserve, and have a stronger voice.

Book of Condolences
A book of condolences in honour of the late Honourable Jim Flaherty is available for signing in my constituency office. Jim’s untimely passing has brought about an outpouring of sorrow and appreciation from across the globe. The book will be available until April 25 at 16600 Bayview Avenue, Suite 206 in Newmarket. Drop by anytime Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

If you would like to contact me on any issue, please call 905-953-7515 or visit my website at www.loisbrown.ca. I look forward to hearing from you.