Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health. Responding to a question from the opposition on the hepatitis C issue, the minister refused to take action to identify and warn those who were infected, merely suggesting that people see their doctor. The fact is however that hepatitis C is often asymptomatic.
How can the minister responsible for public health refuse to take action on the hepatitis C issue when several thousand Canadians, unaware of their condition, can transmit the virus to others and even die from it?