As concerns health, Dr. O'Connor sounded the alarm in 2006 when CBC, among others, announced that five people had died in Fort Chipewyan from a rare tumour. Health Canada's only answer was that Mr. O'Connor was frightening Canadians needlessly. I'm not making this up, Health Canada said that.
A mandate was given to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta and an inquiry was launched to follow up on Mr. O'Connor's report.
This morning, you told us that, according to the results of a study conducted by Alberta's health services agency, released in February 2009, the number of observed cases of colon and bile duct cancer is within the expected range. However, the report shows an increase of 30% of cancer rates in Fort Chipewyan as compared to the provincial average. So you're telling us that everything appears normal, whereas in fact, the cancer rate is 30% higher in Fort Chipewyan than in the province on average.
How can you look us in the eye this morning and tell us honestly that the number of cases is within the expected range?