Speech From Throne 

January 30, 2001

Quality, universal, publicly-funded health care is a cornerstone of the Canadian quality of life.

The Canadian health care system is a justifiable source of pride for Canadians - an expression of our values of compassion, sharing and caring. It is one of our proudest national achievements.

Our publicly financed system is the best. It is a right of citizenship, not a privilege of wealth. Canadians expect their governments to stand up for the five principles of the Canada Health Act and to work together to ensure that our health care system is modern and sustainable.

As the last election clearly demonstrated, Canadians simply will not tolerate the creation of one system of health care for the rich and one for the rest of us.

Our government has shown unswerving leadership in defending and strengthening our health care system – in areas of funding, research, innovation, and giving Canadians better access to health information.

And we have worked constructively - as a partner - with provinces, territories and other interested parties in meeting the needs of the future and responding to emerging health care issues - in a spirit of openness and pragmatism.

Last September, our government reached an agreement with all the provinces and territories on a Health Action Plan which will preserve and modernize our publicly funded health care system for the 21^st century.

The Health Action Plan will result in $21.2 billion in additional federal funds over five years being made available to the provinces and territories for health care.

Highlights of the Health Action Plan:

• An $18.9 billion increase to the cash component of the CHST over five years, which the provinces and territories will be able to use for health care;
• $1 billion fund that the provinces and territories can use to upgrade hospital and diagnostic equipment;
• $800 million to fund projects to provide better access to doctors, nurses and frontline health care services;
• $500 million to fund better  information technology in the health care system;
• A Joint Action Plan for governments to work collaboratively in areas like primary and home care, doctor and nurse supply, pharmaceuticals and others;
• A commitment be governments to report to Canadians on how their tax dollars are being spent in the health care system; and to report regularly to Canadians on how the system is performing.

We set aside $550 million for health-related research and innovation and to launch the Canadian Institutes of Health Research to investigate disease prevention and treatment, the determinants of health, and the effectiveness of the health system.

We have funded and promoted information-sharing networks, such as the Canadian Health Network to provide individual Canadians, as well as health care professionals, with the information they need to make the best health decisions.

The Government of Canada will:

• Uphold the Canada Health Act, and work with the provinces and territories to ensure that all governments continue to fulfil their commitment to the principles of medicare.
• Strengthen its efforts to encourage physical fitness and participation in sport, and take further steps to combat substance abuse, tobacco consumption and promote mental health.
• Advance progress on disease prevention, in particular by reducing the incidence of preventable diabetes and tuberculosis, especially among Aboriginal Canadians, who suffer disproportionately from these diseases.
• Provide a further major increase in funding to the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, to enhance their research into disease prevention and treatment, the determinants of health, and the effectiveness of the health system.
• Work with the provinces and territories to create a citizens’ council on health care quality, which will obtain the public’s perspective on relevant and meaningful measures of health system performance.