Debates of April 24th, 1998

Hepatitis C

[The Deputy Speaker]

The hon. member for Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar.

[Chris Axworthy, NDP, Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Deputy Prime Minister a question on something he said earlier.

This should not be a political issue. This should be an issue of principle. The New Democratic Party in the last election argued that every hepatitis C victim should be compensated in principle.

Why does the Deputy Prime Minister not take muzzle off his colleagues? Why will he not let them vote on principle instead of making this a partisan political question?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is missing the point made on CBC radio news by the spokesman for all provinces: “Saskatchewan's health minister says the opposition parties in Ottawa are just trying to score political points in their protest against the hepatitis C package”. Clay Serby says that includes his federal NDP cousins.

If he does not like that position he ought to go after Mr. Serby.

Taxation

[Scott Brison, Progressive Conservative, Kings—Hants, NS]

Mr. Speaker, this year's budget announced an increase in the emergency services volunteer tax free allowance. The difficulty is that unless they receive remuneration for their services, volunteers cannot claim any tax deduction. Typically urban volunteer firefighters receive some form of remuneration while rural firefighters do not.

Why is the government treating rural volunteer firefighters as second class cousins compared to urban firefighters? Will the minister offer a tax deduction to rural firefighters as well?

[Marcel Massé, Liberal, President of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for Infrastructure]

Mr. Speaker, this tax deduction has been offered in the case of essential services for small municipalities that may have trouble paying their emergency volunteers more than they usually give.

In this case it would be extremely costly to extend it more than has been done in the budget.

[Scott Brison, Progressive Conservative, Kings—Hants, NS]

Mr. Speaker, we need to address this problem. Almost every member of the House has rural communities that are dealing with this issue. It is a problem that crosses party lines.

The Liberal government chose to extend benefits to urban firefighters without considering the deduction for their rural cousins. Rural firefighters across Canada deserve the same benefits as urban firefighters. They risk their lives in the same manner and deserve the same type of benefit and treatment as their rural counterparts.

This Liberal government has refused to assist in addressing this problem. We really hope it reaches out and tries to do better for the rural firefighters of Canada.

[Marcel Massé, Liberal, President of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for Infrastructure]

Mr. Speaker, there are many small communities and small rural centres that find it extremely difficult to pay their emergency volunteers. They can only give them a small contribution. The federal government has decided not to tax them in order to help these emergency service volunteers and we intend to continue that practice.

Hepatitis C

[Rahim Jaffer, Reform, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Speaker, it is surprising how the government relies solely on the CBC to deal with such a serious problem as hepatitis C.

The health minister has insulted hepatitis C victims by comparing their tragic situation to random medical accidents. He pretends there is no moral difference between being negligently poisoned by the government and suffering a random medical mishap.

These hepatitis C victims did not suffer an accident. They suffered a cruel government decision. It is government policy that infected them, not fate.

He is a lawyer. Can he not see the difference?

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

Mr. Speaker, it would probably irk the member opposite to know that the Government of Canada and all its partners at the provincial level have been studying this very profoundly and have been relying on expert support for all their decisions.

I make reference to a report by Robert Prichard who is now the president of the University of Toronto and a blue chip committee concerning all compensation schemes for persons suffering significant avoidable health care injuries. We recommended general criteria for determining which significant medical injuries are compensatory under—

[The Deputy Speaker]

The hon. member for Edmonton—Strathcona.

[Rahim Jaffer, Reform, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Speaker, there are normal risks associated with a tonsillectomy, for example, but everyone knows about them. It is an accepted part of life. However, being transfused with poison blood during that operation is not a normal or acceptable risk. It is the government's fault because it refused to screen the blood.

Why has the health minister said in the past that the government infected blood is just like any other natural medical risk?

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

Mr. Speaker, I repeat what I just said to the member a moment ago. The Prichard commission recommended the general criteria for determining compensation should be under a scheme that would pass the test of avoidability, that the principal inquiry to determine if an event is compensatory should be whether with the benefit of hindsight the injury could have been avoided by an alternative diagnostic or therapeutic procedure.

That is what doctors, justices and lawyers presented as evidence to the governments of Canada—

[The Deputy Speaker]

The hon. member for Matapédia—Matane.

Fisheries

[René Canuel, Bloc, Matapédia—Matane, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.

Last December, the Secretary of State responsible for Fisheries and Oceans announced in this House that the new fisheries act would be introduced in February 1998. For the minister's information, I would like to remind him that today is April 24.

What is the minister waiting for, when this legislation is so indispensable to the entire fishing industry?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, is very concerned about this matter. He is taking his time and deliberating on it very seriously before bringing in the required legislation.

[René Canuel, Bloc, Matapédia—Matane, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I have listened to the reply, but it is no answer.

Since this legislation must be based on the broadest possible consensus, did the minister prepare it in secret, or did he make use of the input of the provinces and all segments of the industry?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague has consulted widely with provinces and stakeholders, as we all do when we are bringing in new legislation. Obviously parliament will have its opportunity to give its input when legislation is introduced. If the hon. member has any specifics that he would like contained in any potential legislation I am sure my colleague would be most accommodating.

Hepatitis C

[Myron Thompson, Reform, Wild Rose, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I have heard from several people in my riding who have contracted hepatitis C. Recently one passed away. Another fellow in his early thirties who has two young children is fearful that he will not be able to support his family. People with hepatitis C cannot work. They are too sick.

My constituent would like me to ask this question. I will ask it of the Deputy Prime Minister. What is my constituent supposed to do to look after his children today? What will become of his family in the future?

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

Mr. Speaker, obviously this issue tugs at the heart strings of everyone. I indicated to all members yesterday that the governments of Canada, all of them taking into consideration the suffering of all the victims of hepatitis C, put together a package that addressed the most immediate concerns of a clearly identifiable group. All of them did that in partnership. They said at the same time we are not stopping any others from pursuing all avenues open to them through the procedure—

[The Deputy Speaker]

The hon. member for Wild Rose.

[Myron Thompson, Reform, Wild Rose, AB]

Mr. Speaker, if it truly tugged at the hearts of everybody in this House and these people over here, there would not be this line of questioning. It would have been taken care of.

This young man in my constituency wants to know what he has to do. Does he have to resort to begging, selling pencils on a street corner? He cannot get unemployment insurance. He cannot buy life insurance. He is looking at a way to put food on his table and to look after his children when he is gone because he knows that is going to be soon.

How can they sit over there and not offer some alternatives? Does he suggest they sue the government? Is that the only alternative? Come up with something better.

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

Mr. Speaker, I do not think that the bluster is going to be impressive for all those going through this terrible time. It would be more helpful to recognize the fact that there is something available already.

In response to a previous question, I gave the House an indication of what the ministers of health of all the jurisdictions are considering and that is the assistance under the current social safety net which, by the way, we support but they do not. In addition, we have left open all the opportunities still available to them through every other type of procedure, both legal and governmental. I indicated—

[The Deputy Speaker]

The hon. member for Hochelaga—Maisonneuve.

Income Tax Act

[Réal Ménard, Bloc, Hochelaga—Maisonneuve, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of National Revenue.

The Ontario Court of Appeal ruled unanimously that the Income Tax Act was unconstitutional because it did not include gays and lesbians in its definition of spouse, thus denying them benefits to which they are entitled.

Will the minister immediately undertake to follow up on this ruling and amend the Income Tax Act, which is now unconstitutional according to the Ontario Court of Appeal's ruling?

[Marcel Massé, Liberal, President of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for Infrastructure]

Mr. Speaker, the ruling was published yesterday. The government has 60 days in which to respond. We are now going to look at the legal, social and political consequences of the ruling and respond within the time allowed us.