Mr. Speaker, during my many personal meetings with victims of hepatitis C, both before and after 1986, I have explained the approach taken by governments to this issue. I have explained it, as Premier Romanow did last Friday when he was here in Ottawa. The premier is of the hon. member's own party, the New Democratic Party of Saskatchewan. Premier Romanow said that it was a tough decision on a difficult issue.
However, as Premier Romanow said, reflecting the view of all governments in Canada, this is the right thing to do. If we are going to preserve a publicly funded health care system we should compensate in cash those who were harmed in a way that was avoidable had governments acted properly.