Leona Aglukkaq

[Health, June 18th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, Canada will continue to work with the World Health Organization on H1N1 as we see the situation cross the world.

I will continue to work with the provinces and territories as we deal with H1N1. We will continue to monitor the situation very carefully and provide the necessary services in responding to the situation.

[Health, June 18th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, let me be very clear, first of all, on the H1N1 situation.

Presently there is no scientific evidence to show that H1N1 is predominantly affecting aboriginal people. Based on science, we will continue to monitor the situation very carefully.

I come from an isolated aboriginal community in Nunavut, and the systems that are in place to respond to the pandemic are no different in the north and in small communities. We have provided 10 additional nurses and doctors to St. Theresa Point to respond to this situation.

[Medical Isotopes, June 18th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the member should know that the provinces and territories and physicians deliver health care.

The medical experts on isotopes developed contingency measures to manage the shortage of isotopes back in 2007. As soon as we became aware that Chalk River would be shut down, those measures were activated, which allowed doctors to triage and use the alternatives. In fact, thallium is now being used by the Ottawa cancer institute as an alternative to Tc-99.

These are the measures that were put in place by physicians themselves, and they are acting on them.

[Medical Isotopes, June 18th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, we have been dealing with the provinces and territories with regard to providing alternative supplies and the use of Tc-99. We will continue to do that.

Let me quote Dr. Rob Beanlands of the Ottawa Heart Institute, who said, “I actually think that Canada is taking a leadership role in regards to isotopes”. In regard to alternatives, he said, “In fact in Canada we are doing this much better than other countries are doing”.

We will continue to work with the provinces in identifying alternatives that are available in Canada.

[Medical Isotopes, June 17th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the announcement I made yesterday with regard to research to find alternatives to Tc99 is the first of its kind in the world. Canada is a world leader in research, and this will help deal with the shortage of Tc99. We need to look at those alternatives, and we are doing so.

I will continue to work with the medical isotope experts to look at other alternatives, and with my colleague, who is dealing with the supply situation in this country.

[Medical Isotopes, June 17th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I will continue to work with the provinces and territories, which deliver health care, on this issue. I will continue to work with the medical experts on medical isotopes in identifying alternatives.

Yesterday I announced $6 million to be allocated for research. Canada is a world leader in research. This is the first of its kind. For the very first time, experts on medical isotopes are coming together to look at alternatives to Tc-99.

[Medical Isotopes, June 17th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, back in 2007 the medical isotope experts, in partnership with the provinces and territories, established contingency measures. Those measures have been implemented and the provinces and territories continue to work with them. Part of that plan was to identify alternatives. Alternatives were made available to the provinces and territories and are available now.

The Tc-99 shortage is being managed by front-line health care providers and we will continue to work with them.

[Health, June 16th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I have been meeting with the NDP government of Manitoba and it agrees we have adequate supplies for the communities should they require it for the pandemic. A pandemic plan has been in place since 2006. We have been implementing it since April and we will continue to do that in every community. I will continue to work with the provincial health authorities as we deal with this situation.

[Bisphenol A, June 16th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, as part of the government's chemical management plan, we will continue to evaluate these situations. We take them very seriously. I look forward to having a dialogue with my colleague on the very issues he has expressed. We will look into that.

At the same time, I can say that Canadians expect action and we have taken action on this issue.

[Bisphenol A, June 16th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, our government has a strong record of taking action on bisphenol A.

As part of the chemical management plan, this government carefully evaluated the potential health effects of BPA and concluded that the general population does not need to be concerned. However, to protect newborns and infants, this government wanted to be prudent. That is why we are proceeding to ban the baby bottles made with BPA.

Canadians expect actions by their government when it comes to their safety and we are taking action.