You want answers?

Don’t look to Canada’s health minister

TRUMP HAS A PRETTY GOOD TRACK RECORD ON ISRAEL. — JESSE KLINE

Health Minister Jeanyves Duclos appears to have taken a lesson from the Jack Nicholson school of dialogue. Judging from Duclos’s appearance before a parliamentary health committee on Tuesday, he is obviously of the opinion that Canadians “can’t handle the truth.”

Duclos might not have said those words, or with such passion as Nicholson in the movie A Few Good Men, but the intention was the same: not to answer questions.

For Duclos, that means not answering questions about the Liberal government’s promise to recruit 7,500 doctors, nurses and nurse practitioners; or when cash would be available to help children who are going hungry; or about when he first raised the issue of the chronic shortage of children’s pain medication with his department.

To those questions, Duclos showed he can obfuscate with the best of them. Why answer a direct question on an issue of vital importance to Canadians when you can deflect and divert?

Sometimes the question can be straightforward, but elicits no answer because Duclos doesn’t have a good one to give.

Take the question from Stephen Ellis, who worked as a family doctor for 22 years before becoming the Conservative MP for Cumberland—colchester.

“The prime minister spoke very openly in the House of Commons about the 7,500 doctors, nurses and nurse practitioners that $3.2 billion was going to bring to this country. Where have we spent that money and how many of those doctors, nurses and nurse practitioners in each of those specific areas are actually here working on the ground now?” he asked.

Duclos’s first sentence in answering the question was: “The statement as to what we have done now, as we know COVID, although it’s not over, is better than it could have been.”

COVID? Where are the 7,500 doctors, nurses and nurse practitioners that the Liberals promised and Duclos says “COVID”!

To be clear, this is a central plank of the Liberal’s health policy. In 2019, the Liberals promised that the nearly five-million Canadians who lacked a primary care provider would have access to a doctor or a health-care team.

In 2021, the Liberal platform went further, promising “$3.2 billion to the provinces and territories for the hiring of 7,500 new family doctors, nurses and nurse practitioners.”

This wasn’t some “gotcha” question but an attempt to get an update on an issue the Liberals had made of primary importance — at least before the election.

Duclos went on to talk about the $2 billion to reduce the backlog in surgeries. “That obviously comes through supporting health workers, nurses and doctors, hiring more of them, recruiting more of them and retaining more of them,” he said.

But still no specific mention of the $3.2 billion committed to recruiting 7,500 doctors and health-care workers.

“I didn’t ask about COVID,” said Ellis, who asked the question again, only to have Duclos start talking about increases to the Canada Health Transfer (CHT).

“I guess that answer’s not forthcoming,” said Ellis. And he was right.

Then there was this exchange between Duclos and Laila Goodridge, the Conservative MP for the Alberta riding of Fort Mcmurray— Cold Lake.

Goodridge: “On what date did you first raise the issue about children’s pain medication shortages with your department?”

Duclos: “If you want more detail, the department can provide them.”

Goodridge: “I’ve asked your department. They refused to give me an answer.”

Duclos: “Well, as I just said, the department collects (that) data on a daily basis.”

So the department has the answer, it just doesn’t give it out, and neither does Duclos. “Another non-answer,” said Goodridge.

And it’s not just the Conservatives. Bloc Québécois MP Jean-denis Garon asked Duclos about the best way of using federal and provincial funds to optimize health resources. After hearing the answer, Garon replied, “I understand that you are avoiding the question.”

Don Davies, the NDP MP for Vancouver Kingsway, pointed out that food prices are soaring, nearly a quarter of Canadians reported going hungry due to cost and two-million children are at risk of going to school hungry across the country.

“In the last election, both the Liberal party and the NDP pledged to invest $1 billion to establish a national school nutritious meal program to ensure that no child is forced to struggle through the day on an empty stomach. Can you confirm when that funding will be in place and when Canadians can expect a national school nutritious meal program?” he asked.

Duclos: “Healthy eating is an important social and physical determinant of healthy living and a healthy being.” Great, eating is good, say Liberals.

Duclos: “We did commit to doing more when it comes to providing healthy meals and healthy snacks (for) children in particular.” Super, so we’re all on board.

Duclos: “We look forward to working with you (the NDP).” Right, so eating, good; hungry children, bad. But an answer on the school nutrition program, not forthcoming.

Davies also asked Duclos about the recent meeting of health ministers in Vancouver where the federal government said it was prepared to put more money into the Canada Health Transfer. “Did you communicate how much money that would be, and if so, how much?” asked Davies.

Duclos talked for a while without giving a figure so Davies interrupted: “I’m asking if you actually specified the amount of money you’d put on the table?”

Given a second chance to answer, Duclos didn’t.

And when Duclos started talking about increasing the CHT, Davies interrupted again, “Did you attach a number?”

It will come as no surprise that asked three times, Duclos three times refused to provide a proper answer.

Maybe Canadians can’t handle the truth. But once — just once — it would be nice to hear it.