February 3, 1943 (19th Parliament, 4th Session)

Mr. HANSON (York-Sunbury):

Is it not true that a bill has been prepared and submitted to the medical profession, at least in part? I happen to know that that is true, that the medical profession have seen the bill and have made some pronouncement on the question of health insurance.
Hon. IAN A. MACKENZIE (Minister of Pensions and National Health): I might
answer that. For the past year and a half, officers of the Department of Pensions and National Health, along with experts of various other departments, have been exploring certain proposals in relation to health insurance. No bill has been submitted to the government, but certain proposals have been discussed from time to time by my officers and myself with the medical and dental professions, druggists, nurses, and about twenty-two different organizations in Canada. These proposals will probably be discussed before the select committee. But no bill has been submitted to the government. And this work was going on long before the Winnipeg convention.