 Hello, everyone. It's great to be here today at the University of Ottawa Medical School. I was speaking earlier with some future health professionals. This afternoon, I worked with all 13 of Canada's premiers to tackle one of the most important issues facing Canadians, strengthening publicly funded universal health care across this country. For generations, public health care has been a core part of what it means to be Canadian. It's built on a promise that no matter where you live or what you earn, you will always be able to get the medical care you need. But right now, our health care system isn't living up to that promise. The waiting delays to emergencies have become dangerously long. Our hospitals and clinics reduce their opening hours because of the labor shortage. There are millions of Canadians, 100 medical families or nurses, who must be alone in the health care system. People are waiting too long for essential surgeries, and we're seeing a growing need for mental health care, especially among young people. Canadians deserve better. Our country is a global leader in the field of health research. It's in Canada that open-minded operations have come to an end, that insulins have been elaborated, and that discoveries have been carried out in the fight against cancer. Health care is a global calibre, but we need a system that works well so that everyone can access their care. The pandemic reminded each and every one of us just how important our health is. It also put enormous pressure on our health care systems and on our health care workers. And it made us take a hard look at the long-standing issues facing our health care. As leaders, we've come together to deliver tangible actions and outcomes today, while building a more modern system to ensure results for all Canadians for the future. The provincial and territorial governments deliver health care with support from federal funding, which ensures that our collective commitment to the Canada Health Act is upheld. In fact, it's written right into the Canada Health Act that as governments, we need to protect, promote, and restore the physical and mental well-being of residents of Canada and facilitate reasonable access to health services without financial or other barriers. To help ensure that, we're announcing that the federal government will be providing $198 billion in additional federal health funding over the next decade. This includes planned increases to the Canada Health Transfer and new funding of $48 billion over the next 10 years. Obviously, this is a major federal investment in health care, but we all know that money alone is not the answer. Each province and territory is facing different challenges. That's why we're focused on negotiating 13 distinct bilateral agreements that will respond to various fluctuations across the country. This will make sure that real improvements are made and accounted for, particularly in four priority areas. Primary care, health care workers, mental health, and health information and data. First, primary care, making sure Canadians have access to family doctors and nurse practitioners. It's about having someone you trust who knows you, your kids, your parents, your grandparents, and who will make sure that everyone gets the right care and finds the right specialists. A family health team is there to be your entry point into the healthcare system, so it doesn't have to be the emergency room. The nurses, the nurses, the nurses, the nurses, the nurses, and all the health staff have given everything for Canadians over the past few years. They were the heroes of the pandemic, and today they are still under a lot of pressure. When they don't have what they need to do their job, it's everyone who suffers, including patients, waiting for an appointment or an operation on waiting lists that extend. We need a robust public health system, with the necessary resources, where the workload is sustainable. A system where workers have the support to stay in place without getting into trouble. We all learned very well that working conditions dictate the health conditions that Canadians receive. Third, we need to make sure that Canadians can get the mental health care they need. One in three Canadians are struggling. The good news is that more and more people are bravely putting their hands up and asking for help. But we need a system that can respond and help people when and where they need it. And that includes helping those living with substance use and addictions challenges. It's to put in place a 21st century health system that is connected and in which we all have an electronic access to medical information. A system where these data can be communicated to our health care providers, whether they be our pharmacist or our specialist, to receive appropriate and quality care. Each of the 13 bilateral agreements will be focused on delivering results for Canadians. To make sure that you're getting your hip replacement faster, so you can have your quality of life back sooner. Bilateral agreements will be tailored and flexible to the needs of each province and territory, but one thing will be consistent. Each will need to provide transparent information so that your health care system is accountable and you can be sure that real improvements are being made. What gets measured gets done. No matter your income or where you live, you deserve access to the best possible care from coast to coast to coast whether you live somewhere remote, rural or urban. Indigenous peoples have their own unique health needs. They continue to face gaps in care at all levels which are especially felt by those who require wraparound services. Every Indigenous person deserves equal quality and equal access to health care free from racism and discrimination. So as part of the bilateral agreements, we will work with Indigenous leadership to address these issues and make sure there are measurable results. And we are providing $2 billion over 10 years to an Indigenous Health Equity Fund to support First Nation, Inuit and Metis partners in closing health care gaps. Health care has always been a priority for our government. Since 2015, we have made major historic investments to support Indigenous health. In 2017, we signed health accords with all provinces and territories to improve mental health and addictions care as well as home and community care for all Canadians. During the pandemic, we invested billions of dollars so that our system resists this unprecedented public health crisis by providing, for example, free tests and vaccines. We have all witnessed tragedies in our long-term care centers, and this government has acted by providing important funding and by pushing for national health care to protect our Indigenous people. Last year, we launched the Canadian Health Care Fund, which sends money directly to families who need it so that almost 200,000 children of under 12 years of age can receive health care. And we are going forward so that Indigenous people, under 18 years of age, and Indigenous people can have support for their health care before the end of this year. Our government believes that taking care of Canadians is a fundamental responsibility. On this subject, I would like to take a moment to thank our health workers for their heroic contribution. The last few years have not been easy, but you continue to be there, to make additional hours, to take good care of us and people we love. Our government wants to relieve the pressure exerted on the staff in all provinces and all territories by facilitating the mobility of the workforce across the country. We'll be asking provinces and territories to recognize credentials Canada-wide so that our well-trained health care professionals can work wherever there is need. And to improve how we recognize foreign credentials so that skilled people who come to Canada can more easily contribute and reduce pressure on overworked staff. Personal support workers take close care of people and deserve to be fairly paid. That's why today we're investing $1.7 billion towards the goal of $25 an hour for their important work. But most importantly, in order to support Canadian health care workers, we're taking steps to keep our public system strong. This is a big country built on big, progressive ideas. And few are more central to who we are as Canadians than the promise of universal, publicly funded health care. We all pay our fair share, knowing that, unlike a lot of places, we don't have to make the choice between paying the mortgage or getting a much-needed surgery. And we like to know that our neighbour doesn't have to make that choice either, no matter their circumstances. So when it comes to health care, we need to make sure to look out for everyone and leave out no one. We're taking action today so Canadians can continue to have trust in our public system. We know that cuts and austerity won't make us stronger and won't help Canadians thrive. We're investing in the well-being of Canadians and in a strong social safety net, not only because it's the right thing to do, but because it's the smart thing to do. Canadians deserve to know that every new dollar being announced today is exactly that, a new dollar that will go towards the improvements in health care that Canadians need. Because when people are healthy, when people don't have to go into unnecessary debt, when people can get timely access to health care before complications arise, all of it makes our economy stronger. Now is the time to step up, to meet this moment, to do what it takes to reinforce the defining Canadian institution that is universal public health care. I have high expectations, but also reasonable expectations, that in the coming weeks, not months, we will conclude bilateral agreements, begin flowing more money, and Canadians will start seeing real results. Let's get this done. Let's give Canadians the health care that they expect and that they deserve.