QUESTION PERIOD — Ministry of Employment and Social Development
Investments in Health Care
October 7, 2025
Madam Secretary of State, welcome. Earlier today, our National Finance Committee had the privilege of hearing from award-winning Canadian economist Armine Yalnizyan who spoke compellingly about the care economy — the systems and services that support the physical, emotional and psychological well-being of our citizens. The care economy, as you know, is foundational to the functioning of our broader economy and our seniors. Without healthy people, no sector of the economy can thrive.
Given our aging population and the growing pressures on our health care system — and considering that the care economy now accounts for more than one in five jobs in Canada — can you further elaborate on how the government is approaching investments in health care and the care economy with a smart, forward-looking economic strategy that reflects these realities?
Thank you very much for the question.
I’ve spoken to how we are supporting personal support workers and working on a caregiver strategy. We’re doing that thoughtfully with partners across the country — stakeholders who have deep experience, both lived and expertise, in the care economy. They are working with us along with Health Canada to develop strategies that will service senior Canadians.
The majority of your question is best answered by Health Canada, and I can’t pre-empt my colleague with respect to your specific health-related questions.
Our witness raised concerns about the increasing influence of private equity in the care economy, calling for clear guardrails to ensure that the public interest remains protected. She urged parliamentarians to take a closer look at this. While I recognize the potential value of private capital, we also have a responsibility to ensure that it doesn’t come at the expense of care quality or accountability.
Is this an issue the government is examining — specifically, the role of private equity in the care economy and the need for appropriate regulatory safeguards to protect our seniors and other citizens?
Much of the delivery of health services is under provincial jurisdiction, and the provinces would have a much better perspective as to what this looks like in terms of each province’s health care spending. As I’m sure you know, jurisdictions take different approaches with respect to private versus public delivery of services, so this varies provincially.
Unfortunately, in terms of any statistics that the government might have on this, they are not within my portfolio, so I don’t have that for you. I believe that would be under Health Canada.
