Jeannot Castonguay

[Health, October 19th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, first, I wish to thank the member opposite for the compliment he has bestowed on me. I have risen almost to the status of a god in his eyes; I thank him.

I can assure the House that when we have drugs available to respond to emergencies, they will be safe for ingestion and will present no threat to the health of Canadians.

[Health, October 18th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, we must be prepared for this eventuality, which may be unlikely, but which does exist.

I can assure the member that even though the drugs are generic, they will meet requirements. They are safe. Once again, I think that it is important to stop spreading panic among Canadians.

Canadians need to be told that we are ready and that these are safe drugs. We have assumed our responsibilities, and I am very proud of the role we are playing in government.

[Health, October 18th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada wishes to reassure all Canadians that, in the event of a bioterrorist attacks, we will be ready.

One of the ways we can be sure to be ready is to ensure that we are able to respond to such attacks with the necessary drugs.

In the circumstances, it was important to ensure that we did indeed have these drugs on hand. We have a good many of them already, and the others will follow.

[Canadian Forces, October 17th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Veterans Affairs has unveiled the poster marking this year's veterans' week and remembrance day. It pays tribute to all members of the forces and reminds Canadians of the sacrifices that have been made for them.

The photograph on the poster was taken in Eritrea, in northeast Africa, where 450 members of the Canadian armed forces were sent on a peacekeeping mission. In the background we see an area devastated by war, and, in the foreground, a Canadian peacekeeper holding the hand of a young child.

This striking image shows Canada's commitment to creating a better world. It also speaks of the courage of all those who give effect to our country's ideals.

I am proud to note that the soldier in the photograph is one of my constituents. Corporal Roy and his wife were born and grew up near Edmundston, New Brunswick. Corporal Roy is currently based in his home province as a member of the Royal Canadian Regiment, in Gagetown. He represents all the men and women of our armed forces who serve and protect Canada every day.

On behalf of all the members of the House of Commons, I thank Corporal and Mrs. Roy and their family for serving Canada.

[Breast Cancer, October 16th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I wish to announce to the House and to all Canadians that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Breast cancer is a serious health problem for Canadian women. The federal government is concerned about the physical and psychological suffering caused by this disease.

In 1992, the federal government launched a $25 million initiative through Health Canada to combat breast cancer. In June 1998, the federal government renewed its commitment to the Canadian Breast Cancer Initiative by announcing stable, ongoing funding of $7 million annually.

Thanks to federal leadership and with the help of a national network of devoted partners, we are working to reduce the incidence and mortality of breast cancer and to improve the quality of life of women affected by it.

My congratulations to all those who are devoting their time and energy to this serious health problem.

[Community Care Worker Week, October 5th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to announce to the House that the week of October 15 to 21 is Community Care Worker Week.

Health care professionals and parka-professionals and volunteers providing care in the community are an integral part of our health care system.

Community workers include nurses, social workers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, visiting homemakers, and volunteers.

These people are the frontline workers. They provide home care and long term care in facilities. They offer meal and community support programs.

As many health care services are being moved from the hospitals to the community, community care workers are increasingly in demand to help in the transition and to ensure the continuity of patient care.

I invite you to join me in paying tribute to community care workers in Canada and in acknowledging Community Care Worker week.

[All-Numeric Dates Act, October 2nd, 2001]

Madam Speaker, I know that the member spoke to the minister. I can assure him that he takes his concerns very seriously.

I would like to try to explain here how the Pest Control Products Act applies to products that scare away birds.

All products claimed to be usable in the fight against harmful organisms are subject to the Pest Control Products Act. The expression fight against means among other things that harmful organisms are kept away, are attracted, prevented from infesting or eliminated. These organisms may be weeds, insects, molds, rodents and even bacteria in swimming pools.

The Pest Management Regulatory Agency of Health Canada certifies a whole range of products for such purposes.

The device the member is referring to is designed to scare birds away in order, among other reasons, to prevent aircraft from crashing. We should all understand that it is important to ensure that devices claiming to improve human protection are tested as to their effectiveness. In other words, whether they do what they should. Certified products must also bear a label carrying instructions for safe and effective use.

Under the Pest Control Products Act, the annual cost to continue certification of pest control products represents 3% of annual sales, with the maximum cost payable of $2,690 and the minimum of $75. These costs enable the Pest Management Regulatory Agency to run ongoing programs to protect Canadians, such as the monitoring of compliance, renewal of certification, reassessment of old pesticides and special examinations.

[Health, September 26th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, obviously they had a very full agenda. I cannot outline all that was discussed, but I might indicate that one of the items of discussion was the high cost of pharmaceuticals.

The ministers agreed to establish a common evaluation process, so that instead of each province conducting its own evaluation, it would be done at the national level, and the results would be shared. Each province would then decide whether or not to include it on the formulary listing.

They also discussed the importance of home care and community health care. Clearly, this is an important issue, because these days, there is much work being done in the community. There are a great many things that I would like to share, but—

[Prostate Cancer, September 24th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, for men, prostate cancer is the second most common type of cancer and the second leading cause of death by cancer.

However, a recent discovery, made possible by funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, is raising hopes in the fight against this disease.

A team led by Dr. Jacques Simard from Laval University's CHUL research centre, and Dr. Johanna Rommens, from the Toronto Hospital for Sick Children, recently discovered a gene that causes prostate cancer.

This discovery is important because it is difficult to determine the specific genes that are responsible for diseases such as prostate cancer. While it is still too early to develop a genetic test to detect prostate cancer, this discovery will provide the key element for early diagnosis and a more appropriate treatment. It is a first step toward similar discoveries.

Drs. Simard and Rommens are true Canadian heroes. I am proud to be a member of a government that not only had the insight of establishing a body such as the CIHR, but also pledged in the throne speech to significantly increase its funding.

Investing in research today will make all Canadians benefit tomorrow.

[Alzheimer's Disease, September 20th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, Alzheimer's is a neurological disorder that gradually leaves the brain unable to reason, to remember, to imagine or to learn.

It affects one Canadian in thirteen over the age of 65. However, a recent world breakthrough made possible through funding from Canada's health research institutes, the primary federal health research body in Canada, is renewing hope in the fight to vanquish this disease.

Recently, Dr. Peter St. George-Hyslop and his team at the University of Toronto Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases discovered a vaccine which may help to prevent and treat memory loss and the disabling cognitive impairment of Alzheimer's disease.

If the results of their laboratory studies can be verified in human subjects, the vaccine could play a vital role in eradicating the disabling dementia associated with this disease.

The next stage will consist of preliminary studies to verify the safety of the vaccine before large scale testing to determine its therapeutic effectiveness is begun.

The researchers believe that clinical testing on human subjects could begin this year and, if it is conclusive, that a drug could be available within four years.

By investing in research today, Canadians will reap the benefits in the future.