House of Commons Hansard #91 of the 36th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was vote.
Alexa McDonough NDP Halifax, NS
Mr. Speaker, Canadians have come to see the health minister as Dr. No: no to more money for health care, no to fair compensation for hep C victims. The government can yet say yes: yes to human needs, yes to all victims of hepatitis C.
The upcoming vote is a watershed moment in this parliament, not a test of confidence but a critical test of liberal compassion. Will the Prime Minister say yes to compensation for all victims of hepatitis C?
Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member, like others in the House, refuses to come to grips with the real question here, the tough question: When should the governments of Canada pay cash compensation to people who are harmed inadvertently, without fault, through risk inherent in the medical system?
Her party colleagues in British Columbia and in Saskatchewan did come to grips with that question. Those ministers of health were at the table with me, with all ministers across the country. We considered that question. We concluded that we should pay to compensate those who were harmed when it was avoidable, and that is what we are doing. 22,000 Canadians were harmed. It was avoidable. They would—
Alexa McDonough NDP Halifax, NS
Mr. Speaker, imagine what threats were levied against government members who were ready to compensate all hep C victims. The democracy policy should not be driven by threats. It takes leadership and compassion but sadly that leadership and compassion are not evident on the government front benches these days.
Why will the Prime Minister not remove the muzzle on his own members? Why will the government not let those prepared to provide leadership and compassion do so and let them vote compensation to all hepatitis C victims?
Herb Gray LiberalDeputy Prime Minister
Mr. Speaker, we have put $800 million on the table. Certainly that is a tangible sign of concern and compassion. I ask the hon. member why she does not direct her question to Premier Clark, the NDP premier of British Columbia? Why does she not direct her question to the other NDP premier in the country?
This is a matter arising out of an agreement with these premiers.
Herb Gray Liberal Windsor West, ON
Opposition party members shout. It shows the weakness of their arguments because they cannot admit that everybody else in the country at the level of the provincial governments agrees with this approach. They are not willing to turn around and attack—
Elsie Wayne Progressive Conservative Saint John, NB
Mr. Speaker, the health minister said yesterday that this was the age of class action. It would appear he cares more about the courts than compassion.
The minister also said that his hepatitis C deal was the right thing to do tomorrow, next week, next month and next year. A lot of his caucus does not feel that way. Saying no to people who have been harmed with hepatitis C through no fault of their own is never the right thing to do.
When will the minister admit that he is more concerned about money than the moral courage to do what is right for all—
Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, I can tell the hon. member that what takes courage is to make the right decision in the long run for the public health system in Canada. That is what takes courage.
It would be easy to write a cheque to everybody who has a claim because we all feel personal compassion for people harmed through no fault of their own, but that is not the issue. The issue of running a government, the issue of trying to save medicare in this country is how many receive cash payments because they were harmed without fault by government. That is the tough question. We had the courage to answer that question in favour of the public health system.
André Bachand Progressive Conservative Richmond—Arthabaska, QC
Mr. Speaker, one thing we can see in the House is that the Minister of Health has lost the fight with the Minister of Finance. He is resting on his laurels, letting innocent victims of hepatitis C take to the street to air their grievances.
Yesterday, the minister said “None of us likes to say no to people who have been innocently harmed and who are asking for something which we cannot give”.
On what is his refusal based? Is it a question of dates, of policy, or of money, because of the Minister of Finance?
Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, our decision was based on the criterion of the government's responsibility. All of Canada's health ministers agreed that our approach was an appropriate one.
The entire health care system always entails risks for every member of the public. Is the hon. member suggesting that all governments should compensate all victims all the time? That is not possible. So we made a choice, and we decided on an appropriate guideline.
Chuck Cadman Reform Surrey North, BC
Mr. Speaker, Regina and Saskatoon have some of the highest rates of car theft and burglary in the country. Authorities believe that almost 90% of these crimes are committed by about 100 youths. We obviously have at least 100 Saskatchewan youths who are not getting the message.
Almost daily the minister tells us that she is dealing with deficiencies in the Young Offenders Act in a timely fashion. Why does she not introduce legislation to increase the maximum penalty from three years, especially for these habitual and repeat offenders?
Anne McLellan LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, as I have indicated in this House before, this government has every intention to respond to the standing committee report in relation to the renewal of youth justice system.
Let me remind hon. members on the other side that this government also believes profoundly that there are no simplistic solutions to the question of the renewal of the youth justice system. Consequently we are in the process of developing a response that reflects the three values identified by Canadians, protection of society, crime prevention and rehabilitation.
Chuck Cadman Reform Surrey North, BC
Mr. Speaker, yesterday four adults and one young offender were charged in the murder of Nirmal Singh Gill in my city of Surrey. The four adults ranging in age from 20 to 26 have all been named. The Young Offenders Act protects the identity of the 17 year old.
Time has run out for this justice minister. Does she feel the protection of identity is reasonable in cases of this nature?
Anne McLellan LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member raises a very serious situation of alleged hate, crime motivated by hate. I would like hon. members on the other side to explain why for example they did not support this government and others in this House in relation to Bill C-41 where we made the motivation of hate an aggravating factor in sentencing.
Pauline Picard Bloc Drummond, QC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Deputy Prime Minister.
A number of victims of hepatitis C have been ignored by the federal government, which continues to refuse to compensate them, despite the terrible injustice done to them and despite the recommendations of Mr. Justice Krever.
As the government continues to consider investing millions of dollars in professional sport, how can it remain so inflexible, categorically denying compensation to victims of hepatitis C who have been left out in the cold?
Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, I am wondering whether the hon. member considers that the Quebec minister of health has abandoned victims of hepatitis C, because he agrees with us. He took the same approach, which was to compensate those who contracted the virus between 1986 and 1990, the period in which those responsible could have acted to prevent infection.
Pauline Picard Bloc Drummond, QC
Mr. Speaker, they have the money, they should pay. We know that the Minister of Finance is currently ahead of his budget projections by some $21 billion.
With the federal government swimming in money, could it not find the few million dollars needed to repair the injustice done to the victims of hepatitis C who are not being compensated?
Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is wrong.
I personally was involved with Mr. Rochon in the discussions on this question. We did not determine our position according to the amount of money available. We did so based on the principle of government responsibility. And together, Mr. Rochon and I, the Parti Quebecois and I, decided that the principle of responsibility would determine which of the victims would be compensated.
Monte Solberg Reform Medicine Hat, AB
Mr. Speaker, as millions of Canadians are filling out their tax returns this week I have one simple question for the finance minister. Why are Canadians still paying the highest personal income taxes in the G-7?
Paul Martin LiberalMinister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, there is no doubt that we inherited a very difficult financial condition when we took office.
However, certainly as a result of the elimination of the deficit I am pleased to announce, in case the member has not noticed, that since last November we reduced unemployment insurance premiums from $2.90 to $2.70. In the budget 400,000 Canadians no longer have to pay tax of any kind and 83% of Canadians saw the 3% surtax eliminated.
I thank the member for his question.
Monte Solberg Reform Medicine Hat, AB
Mr. Speaker, that is nonsense and the minister knows it. According to CIBC Wood Gundy economist Jeff Rubin says: “Canadians' tax bills will be some $6 billion higher as a result of the cumulative impact of the last five Liberal budgets”. He said that in the wake of the last budget.
The minister knows taxes are up. We know taxes are up. Jeff Rubin knows it and Canadians know it. When is the minister going to acknowledge that Canadians have the highest tax burden in the G-7 and he has done zip about it?
Paul Martin LiberalMinister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, the fact is in the last budget we brought in probably the most substantial tax reduction in the course of the last decade.
However, the hon. member is right about one thing, government revenues are up. Our revenues are up because over the course of the last four years one million Canadians have gone back to work. Not only that, but in the last year 453,000 Canadians went back to work.
If the truth be told, Canada is now creating more jobs on a percentage basis than any other G-7 country, including the United States.