CPAC - Wednesday, May 22, 2024 - 10:00 a.m. (ET) - Segment #5

also seeing a surge of cost of shelter. That is the result of -- we can talk about the underfunding, the systemic underfunding, particularly ontario postsecondary education and intelligent institutions that have adapted accordingly and gone to look for a source of revenue three times, four times more than what they can charge statutorily to domestic applicants or canadians. And so they have adjusted accordingly. Don't necessarily fault them entirely for that but I think that has to be done responsibly. And had we not capped this, we would have seen exponential growth over the next one or two years with some very important, very negative carry-on effects in a number of areas. One, obviously, price inflation but also in the number of people seeking asylum. It is not a very well-known statistic but it happens to be accurate that in the ontario educational post secondary education system, there were 10,000 asylum-seekers over the last three years alone. We are in the process of creating our own home generating a silent crisis. Largely within the responsibility of the provinces but the federal government does have some role in place. So my reflection as it evolves over the last few months is that we need to create a space, and incentive after number of warnings for the provinces to act and take responsibility over their education as there are many auditor general reports, not only through ontario, that is the reality. But in british columbia and other provinces that were on expontial trajtrajectory. That is going to come with some turbulence, as you mentioned. And the measures that I took were not necessarily surgical ones, they were blunt. But that is the policy instruments that I have constitutionally to affect that change. As we move forward with recognized institutions as we have proposed in the fall, there is an employee for the government to step in if provinces do not assume that jurisdiction and clean up some of the mess in their own kitchen. I haven't had a lot of assurances from provinces if they are on board now that we have announced the cap but it is not perfect. This is something that has gone uncapped for many decades without the need so that ramp-up is -- has been exponential in the last few years. And it is something that I think we need to get a rain on. Tying it into the conversation that we opened up discussion on. >> Unfortunately we understand the need to control what is going to happen in 2024," we we are very concerned about what will happen with the big confusion. And for the metropolitan university that have been along with the virtuous ones that have about an% international students, not 35. They will find themselves paying the price for other universities and colleges and reckless behaviour. But beyond that I want to go to something else which relates to housing that has already been a big part of the conversation. We have been talking in mathematics, it is a finite number of accommodations, housing of different sorts and is higher pressure. But I want to raise a question on the don't have numbers to back it up but I have a lot of anecdotal evidence that international students are renting those basements and those bedrooms that allow middle-class families and lower middle class to pay their mortgages. So what will happen without? We expect important issues, both the uncertainty for the universities and colleges for september 2024 but some shortages in the labour market but also possibly secondary unexpected affects, you spoke earlier about unexpected effects. These international students won't be there, people won't be able to pay their mortgages. >> We did not bring international students in this country to pay for peoples mortgages, I know you would agree with me on that. At the same time, we know that when students are in a particular area of town, I think about the mcgill student area, there are micro- inflationary pressures that occur in those areas where students live. So there are a ton of challenges associated with that on the other side of the equation. And I'm not unconcerned by that point and I don't want to dismiss it. This change is not as radical change as it could be or we might take. Simply because of the reflection of the increased numbers. It is based on three year period with no new net growth but it may be growth that we may need to tailor further, depending on what we see as the result where the impact that the corresponding effect and actions of the provinces take in order

to adjust if they start to punish the good actors, that is an unfortunate consequence that I may have to have a say over. But obviously we have to give chances on jurisdictions if they have not necessarily been doing things properly in the past on this particular area and I think that is the space that we need to afford them the ability to do. My bigger concern is on housing generally and the availability of spaces. The increase of affordability and mortgages in particular. I certainly do not want to put it on the backs of international students but just the reality that everyone is living with and something that I think at times gets conflated with more particular problems at hand which is one fundamentally of the integrity of the system. So I guess to answer your point more directly, I don't think this change is drastic enough over the time period that we're looking at to create the sort of situations where people would not be able to pay their mortgage because they cannot align the students but this is one of the consequences of having that lack of housing tailored to students, a high mortgage interest rate and challenges that we face and it should not be on an international visa system to correct all those issues. >> I agree with you. Just talking about the unexpected effects. But I think we are getting there and I will pass the time. >> Thank you anna and thank you for indulging in anecdotal evidence as a professor and expert, it makes me feel good as a journalist because professors are always pretending to be more scientific and vigourous than us humble journalists. Minister, you talk about having to tailor things further. And even perhaps a radical manoeuvre, tell us what that might be. >> I would say depends on behaviour. Decisions are made based on behaviour that we have not seen in place yet and the reaction of the provinces sort of an interim period where we are waiting for provinces to get out that verification for the march period that we have asked them to do with things currently frozen. This year will be one with international students where there will be turbulence and it could be hard to analyse or draw clear conclusions this year because there is still some adjustments to watch for. But clearly as I was analysing the data we saw there has been large inflation which is uncapped, particularly in the secondary school system and in some provinces, bridge columbia and particular. And the tendency in the masters and ph.d. Programs to game the system. There are fake business degrees but also people looking to expand into fake mbas and attract people and not come out with a particularly good education, that is something I'm keenly aware of and I do not want to see people game this because we want the quality and a quality proposition. >> You have talked about puppy mills and I hadn't heard the phrase until you mentioned it, 12-under puppy mills comes from diploma mills and you conflated the two. But you were pretty upset about that. I know you like >> We are going live meeting reporters and talking about dental care. Let's listen in. >> Really, really happy to be here. I'm really happy to be here with my wonderful colleague and our health minister, and with the amazing team at sparkling dental hygiene. We just had a chance to talk to other patients. I am here with david doctor abraham. And they have started to treat canadians who are now able to be covered by our dental care plan. It was really moving for me to talk with you guys. And to talk with one your patience and hear how having this plan in place means people are going to be able to afford to get there teeth taking care of. We were being told how awful it has been to have people not be able to afford to get there teeth taking care of. And coley it come to see their dental hygienist when they are really in pain. And what she said broke my heart that by that point, it can be too late. And you have to extract the

person's tooth. Which is painful, it means they lose a tooth probably really expensive, it's bad for everybody. And I'm sure for doctor abraham and marcella as healthcare professionals, it must break your heart. When the people you want to care for can't afford to be cared for. So I am really thrilled that we are changing this. Okay. I do want to start by sharing good news about our economy. Inflation fell to two-point 7% in april. That is down from two-point 9% in march. For four months in a row, inflation in canada has been within the bank of canada's target range. It is now in a three year low in wages have now outpaced inflation for 15 months in a row. This is great news for all canadians. With are fiscally responsible economic plan, our government is doing everything we can to support the bank of canada and help make it possible for the bank to lower interest rates as soon as possible. I know for small businesses that's really important. Our budget is about ensuring fairness for every generation of canadian. And a strong healthcare system is essential to ensuring fairness. Because no matter your age, or your income, every canadian deserves to get the high quality health care that they need. That's really part of being canadian. [ Speaking French ] >> Voice of Interpreter: this is why last year we established a historic plan to invest 200 billion in healthcare over the next 10 years to reduce the waiting times in basic care and this is why we have introduced a bill to put in place the first phase of the national and universal pharmacare system in canada. It gives this for numerous drugs against -- against diabetes and the contraceptives. They will be free. [ End of Interpretation ] this is that healthcare plan. Up until now, in canada, you have been able to tell how much money someone makes or how much money their parents earned by their smile. That is not right. It is not fair. So I am just delighted that our country, our government is now changing this. And really happy to announce that as of this week 2 million canadian seniors have been approved to receive coverage under the new canadian dental care plan. 2 million seniors across canada who are now able to get the dental care they need. And if you haven't signed up, one of the reasons we are here talking about this is go online! Or phone. And see if you qualify. We just spoke to raphael and he said it was actually really easy to do. And marcella and lloyd have said a lot of there patients that they are treat people that have signed up and it's really worth checking. Maybe it will mean you can afford to go see a dentist when it's tough now, or maybe it will mean if you are already seeing a dentist, that you will have a little bit of extra money. Because we all know that life is challenging right now. I am also so glad to announce that there are now close to 10,000 oral healthcare providers including sparkling dental hygiene right here on st. Clair in toronto. Offering services to patients covered under the canadian dental care plan. This includes dentists and dental specialists, independent dust -- dental hygienist and interest. I really want to thank the amazing and warm and kind thoughtful people here at sparkling dental hygiene in all the dental care providers who have signed up for supporting our dental care plan. The work you do is really, really important. You are keeping us healthy.

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