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Monique Smith speaks about Bill 8

Nipissing MPP Monique Smith spoke in the legislature Tuesday about Bill 8. Here is the transcript of her remarks: "I am pleased to rise today in support of our government's Bill 8, our commitment to the future of medicare.
Nipissing MPP Monique Smith spoke in the legislature Tuesday about Bill 8. Here is the transcript of her remarks:

"I am pleased to rise today in support of our government's Bill 8, our commitment to the future of medicare. Before I begin, I would like to acknowledge the contribution of our Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, the Honourable George Smitherman, who has guided and led this bill since its introduction with the aim of preserving and protecting the kinds of fundamental health care values that we know Ontarians hold dear. I would like to thank the minister for his challenge to those of us in the Legislature who could do a little work on our health care as well."

"We have much to be proud about today. Since Bill 8 was introduced for first reading in the Legislature, I have had the privilege of leading the government through legislative committee hearings. We travelled across this great province, we listened and we learned. I would like to join with the minister in thanking the members of this Legislature who participated in these hearings across the province. I'd also like to take this opportunity to thank the staff who assisted us in these hearings across the province, both from the clerk's office and the Ministry of Health."

"We heard from no fewer than 110 delegations and individuals from all parts of the province, all with different and varying perspectives to share. We visited Sudbury, Windsor, Ottawa, Niagara Falls and of course Toronto. Members of 27 hospital boards shared their concerns and views on the accountability provisions contained in this legislation, and as the minister has said, we have come a long way in addressing many of these concerns. We heard from the unions and union organizers -- 24, in fact -- who were concerned about their collective agreements. We have made it clear that Bill 8 would not apply to trade unions and would not affect their collective agreements. We heard from 36 health care professional organizations, such as the Ontario Medical Association, the Ontario Chiropractic Association, physiotherapists and social workers, who shared some of their concerns and the concerns of their members."

"Our ability to work together to create improvements to part II of the bill, especially where the OMA had some significant concerns, was constructive and produced positive results. Individuals -- interested Ontarians and individual health professionals -- along with other social and political organizations, made up the balance of our deputants. Some spoke of their personal experience and some of their deep concerns. Many offered suggestions for improvement -- suggestions that were included in the amendments we brought forward a couple of weeks ago."

"As the minister did in his remarks, I want to thank these individual Ontarians and organizations for taking such an active role in our democratic process and for sharing their very important views with us during this public consultation process. This government appreciates such diversity of opinion. We appreciate their time, we appreciate their input and we were glad to have given them the opportunity to provide us with this input."

"It is this diversity of opinion, as well as the ongoing dialogue between government and its stakeholders, that led to 63 amendments to Bill 8 being passed by the legislative committee a couple of weeks ago. These important amendments, which the minister referred to, clarified and strengthened the intent of the legislation, and Bill 8 is now stronger, is now a better piece of legislation and is legislation that we can all be proud of."

"We, as Liberals, believe that public health care is the best kind of health care. The health of our people is our most precious resource. The Commitment to the Future of Medicare Act will provide enduring protection for publicly funded, universal medicare in this province. We've actively listened to our health care partners and to the many viewpoints presented in consultations. As a result, we have developed stronger legislation that remains true to its intent to preserve medicare in Ontario and to focus on patients' needs in Ontario."

"Through this legislation our government is creating the Ontario Health Quality Council, an independent objective body reporting on the performance of the health care system to the public so that we can make sure that tax dollars are not being wasted."

"As well, Bill 8 will entrench accountability as a central principle in Ontario's health care system. Accountability agreements will be negotiated between the government and the boards of health resource providers, being hospitals, long-term-care facilities, community care access centres and independent health facilities. This means that performance measures will be clearly spelled out. There will be clarity on what is required to meet the needs of patients and ensure the greater public good. New negotiated accountability agreements between health resource providers and the government will result in a common and improved understanding of the results government expects them to deliver to patients, such as hiring more full-time nurses and shorter wait times."

"As we have stated on numerous occasions, Bill 8 does not apply to trade unions. It will not change the existing legal protection for collective agreements. Bill 8 is not intended to interfere with collective bargaining or undermine collective agreements."

"The concept of the public interest, similar to the existing principles in the Public Hospitals Act, is included in the revised legislation to guide the government in entering into accountability agreements and enforcing accountability agreements."

"Explicit provisions have been added through our amendments around due process to deal with any difficulties associated with negotiating an accountability agreement or to deal with any instances of non-compliance. While the minister may still issue a compliance directive or an order for non-compliance, that can only be done after following these comprehensive due process procedures. These directives are graduated and have been outlined in the legislation, instead of regulation."

"We believe that Bill 8 is a strong bill that will provide enduring protection for publicly funded, universal health care in this province. We still have work to do on the regulations, and we will commit to consult with the public on these regulations. We will have a 60-day consultation process for parts I and III of the bill."

"As we move through the legislative process with this cornerstone piece of health care legislation, we will be continuing to dialogue with our health care partners. The minister is right when he says that Ontarians want results and that they want progress in health care."

"My experience in seeing Bill 8 through its various stages has been a good one, an interesting one, an impressive one. I was particularly impressed by the commitment of our health care partners to improving this piece of legislation. The 110 presentations we received were well thought out, they were passionate, they were thoughtful, and due to our health care partners, we have an improved bill to present to this House for second reading."

"I am proud of how far our government has come with this legislation in signalling our commitment to an improved, strengthened and more accountable health care system."