Liberals Silence PrescribeIT Debate, Conservatives Seek Audit

0:00It's April 29, Canada news today starts now, AI powered and ready. Liberals on the House Health Committee shut down public debate on the failed prescribed IT program without any explanation this week. This electronic prescription service kicked off in 2017, run by a federally funded non-profit called Canada Health InfoWay. It got canned this year after slow uptake with operations wrapping up on May 29. The program started with a $40 million budget, but ended up costing $300 million over the past decade. Conservatives, led by health critic Dan Mosier, want the auditor general to dig into the spending mess. They pushed a motion Tuesday for financial docs from InfoWay and tell us health. Committee members vented frustration Wednesday over the set-and-switch to close doors. Conservative MP, Matt Strauss called it astounding, and a bad sign for the Liberals' new majority power. Some majority let them carry the in-camera vote easily. Parliamentary secretary Maggie Chi made the move to go private, but no reasons were given.

1:05Government House leader Stephen McKinnon denies any debate shutdown, saying they're pushing a full legislative agenda daily. With conservatives pointing fingers at potential waste cover-ups, this Committee clash highlights tensions over taxpayer dollars in health tech. Off-size, stay glued on whether an audit happens next.