Thank you, Madam Chair.
I can't believe what I heard the minister say earlier in response to my question, that first nations people should simply go out and buy what they need in terms of flu supplies. We used to have an old expression about 30 years ago that said, what if day cares had all the money they needed to raise children, and the Senate had to hold a bake sale in order to pay for its offices and salaries? I find it absolutely appalling that first nations communities should have to hold a bake sale to raise money for flu supplies.
I appreciate, Madam Minister, that you are from an Inuit community and you've seen the conditions, but it sure doesn't seem to be applied in terms of what we're dealing with today. I've been to Iqaluit and Pond Inlet and Pangnirtung and Resolute Bay, and I know how much groceries cost and how hard it is to get those groceries. There isn't a Shoppers Drug Mart around the corner. There isn't a quick way out of a community.
It just seems to make sense that you look at some of the issues around the conditions on reserves--for which you have full responsibility--especially since under your government conditions have deteriorated, poverty has grown, and people have less and less access to the kinds of supplies you're talking about.
In fact also, as I understand it, some nursing stations don't even have the ability to give out Tylenol. We're talking about basic supplies that are needed in the event of a pandemic that could hit in less than a month from now. Yet you're still telling me that people should go out and buy the supplies.
I will repeat that in French. I have given this a lot of thought, because I took part in an event to raise money to fight the flu. No community or reserve should have to raise money, or depend on charity, to cover its flu-related expenses.
My questions are simply these. Are you going to stop putting this lens of a middle class suburban family on the situation, start looking at the real conditions, and start addressing the needs in first nations and Inuit communities? I want to know specifically, if this thing hits tomorrow, how many reserves, how many first nations and Inuit communities, will know who to call? Can they get to a place and get the supplies that we're now trying to provide for them? Can they pick up a phone and call emergency?