Debates of March 27th, 1998

Hepatitis C

[Grant Hill, Reform, Macleod, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I am certain Pam Rasmussen will know that the parliamentary secretary did not answer my question about why she is excluded. This is a human tragedy, a major human tragedy, and the government is viewing it only as a public relations damage control issue.

We received a document from them which says that they are suppose to talk in compassionate terms but deliver nothing. I want to know why the lawyers in the government won out over those who surely must know that these victims deserve a compassionate, fair settlement.

[Joe Volpe, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, compassion and fairness are to be seen in the package itself. There is an offer on the table representing $1.1 billion that victims can access as well as an estimated value of $1.6 billion for services in addition to those that are regularly provided under Canada's health care system through the provinces.

This represents in my view a very fair and compassionate address to a problem that has been longstanding and that we want—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Macleod.

[Grant Hill, Reform, Macleod, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the leaked strategy document says a huge amount to me. They know themselves that this compensation package is a failure. Why else would they try to exclude the victims from the microphone as the minister makes his announcement? Why else would they try to say to those victims “you cannot get anything if you were infected before 1985?”

Why did they choose a hard-hearted legal route rather than extending the warm hand of compassion to those unfortunate innocent victims?

[Joe Volpe, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, it is important to review some of the details of the package that are there for consideration.

It is true this represents a combined negotiated approach. All governments of Canada, all political parties of all stripes, have come together to put an offer on the table to address the needs of victims that were longstanding and were facing a long process in the courts.

We all agreed including stakeholders that—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Elk Island.

[Ken Epp, Reform, Elk Island, AB]

Mr. Speaker, to this government the lives of some hepatitis C victims are worth less than those of others. If people were affected in one year they are eligible; it if was one year before they are not.

My uncle died just two months ago. He is one of the faceless names being callously dismissed. Why will the government not show some caring and compensate these victims fairly, instead of punishing them for dying at the wrong time?

[Joe Volpe, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, I feel sorry for all those who have suffered from this terrible tragedy. However I think it is important that the member keep in mind that the estates of the victims who have since passed on are also eligible in the compensation package.

All governments of Canada of all political stripes have taken to heart the need to address this issue in the best possible fashion.

The member opposite ought to take a moment to reflect on the fact this is something extremely positive that all victims can access. Should they wish not—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Elk Island.

[Ken Epp, Reform, Elk Island, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals are spending money on hiring public relations consultants and they are ignoring the victims. They have spent more time drafting damage control plans like the one that was leaked last night than they have consoling the dying.

Why will the government not compensate these victims instead of fighting them in court and turning off their microphones at press conferences?

[Joe Volpe, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, as I said a moment ago, the compensation package that is on the table is one that all victims can access.

It is those victims who regrettably are limited to a time when we can identify the cause. Those who do not want to participate in that package are quite free to proceed in the courts.

I remind the member and all members in the House that there is a third party: all negotiated offers are subject to court approval. Those who prefer to go a different route still have that option.

Option Canada

[Suzanne Tremblay, Bloc, Rimouski—Mitis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on January 8, 1998, the auditor general informed the Minister of Canadian Heritage that he was not satisfied with the report submitted in December 1997 by Option Canada.

The minister then ordered a new report, which she received on March 20, but which was similar in every respect to the first one.

Knowing that the auditor general will not be pleased with the new report, since he already said that the December report was inadequate, will the minister now demand a comprehensive report to identify who got the contracts, at what time, to do what, and when?

[Sheila Copps, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, I already provided the House with over 100 pages of information.

As soon as I received Option Canada's reply, I transmitted it to the hon. member and to the auditor general. I am fully satisfied that the requirements which had not been met originally have now been met and that the case is closed.

[Suzanne Tremblay, Bloc, Rimouski—Mitis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it is easy to make fun of taxpayers.

With the second report, we now know how much GST and QST Option Canada paid. It is the only difference between the two reports.

Will the minister pledge to ask for a new report that will answer the auditor general's question, which is “What was actually done, produced and achieved” by Option Canada?

[Sheila Copps, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, the PQ and the BQ are always griping and this is unfortunate, because it is harmful to the Quebec and Canadian economies.

[An hon. members]

Troublemakers.

[Sheila Copps, Liberal, Hamilton East, ON]

Yes, troublemakers. If so, since we provided all the information available, why did they not go after Bernard Landry, who never followed up on the request made by Jean-Marc Fournier regarding Plan O? Mr. Landry refused to provide any documents. These people are the ones who do everything in secret regarding Plan O. They are troublemakers.

[Hélène Alarie, Bloc, Louis-Hébert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Canadian Heritage.

We have a mystery. The minister sent us a copy of a letter she had sent to the home of Claude Dauphin, informing him that her officials had written his lawyer. This letter is undated and fewer than three lines long.

On March 20, Option Canada wrote to the minister and referred to another letter that is dated February 3 and contains a number of questions. What is behind this new mess?

[Sheila Copps, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, I have here a letter. Unfortunately, it is a letter that was written in Quebec City on November 28, 1996. It is addressed to Jean-Pierre Vaillancourt, the man responsible for the Commission sur l'accès à l'information.

The writer was trying to find out exactly what became of the billions that were spent, siphoned off, by Quebec finance minister, Bernard Landry. As things stand, they have been refusing for two years—

[Richard Marceau, Bloc, Charlesbourg, QC]

Answer the question.

[Sheila Copps, Liberal, Hamilton East, ON]

—to give any information whatsoever, while we have provided over 100 pages to the Parliament of Canada.

[Richard Marceau, Bloc, Charlesbourg, QC]

Troublemaker.

[Sheila Copps, Liberal, Hamilton East, ON]

They are the troublemakers.

[Hélène Alarie, Bloc, Louis-Hébert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the deeper one looks, the murkier it gets.

Through her bungling, is the minister taking part in the cover-up that has been going on since 1995 and that was the reason the auditor general said on January 20 that, as long as everything is not out in the open, it will not be clear whether we are dealing with a simple administrative oversight or real misappropriation of funds?

[Sheila Copps, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, once again, all this party wants to do is stir up trouble.