Hon. Ginette Petitpas Taylor (Minister of Health, Lib.)

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to thank my colleague from Manitoba for his important work on the health committee and also his advocacy for pharmacare.

No Canadian should have to choose between putting food on their table and paying for prescription medication. That is why our government is committed to ensuring that all Canadians have access to a national pharmacare program, and the work is under way. In budget 2019, there are $35 million to create the Canadian drug agency and also $1 billion to address the high cost of rare diseases.

We will not rest until every Canadian has access to a national pharmacare program.

Hon. Ginette Petitpas Taylor (Minister of Health, Lib.)

Mr. Speaker, our government recognizes the unique challenges that Canadians face when they are dealing with autism. That is why we are taking action to support them through community-based projects, a national research and exchange network program to help them find work and groundbreaking new research.

We will continue to work with community groups, caregivers and others to ensure that all Canadians with autism get the support and the help they need.

Hon. Ginette Petitpas Taylor (Minister of Health, Lib.)

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to be part of a government that makes historic investments in health in order to respond to the needs of Canadians today and in the future. We have invested more than $11 million in mental health care and home care.

We will continue to work with the provinces and territories to ensure that Canadians continue to be proud of their health care system.

Hon. Ginette Petitpas Taylor (Minister of Health, Lib.)

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be part of a government that has made historic investments in the areas of mental care and home care. To make sure that we could meet the needs of Canadians today and also tomorrow, we have invested more than $11 billion in the areas of home care and mental health. From there, we continue to work with the provinces and territories, as we want to make sure that our health care system remains a point of pride for all Canadians.

Hon. Ginette Petitpas Taylor (Minister of Health, Lib.)

Mr. Speaker, unlike the Harper Conservatives, we know abortion rights are protected under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and we will always defend those rights.

We believe all Canadian women should have access to safe abortion services. That is why we stood up for reproductive health options in all parts of Canada, including expanding access to Mifegymiso in different parts of the country, including rural areas, to ensure that everyone would have access to abortion services.