Debates of May 1st, 1998

Hepatitis C

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member does not express the view of his party in Saskatchewan. His party, which forms the government in Saskatchewan, stands with the federal government on the principle involved.

Tommy Douglas, called by many the father of medicare, would surely be the first to say that medicare cannot be sustained if the principle on which we are going to proceed is if a person becomes ill they not only get treated, they get paid.

It is an important principle. Surely payment should be for those where there is fault. That is the principle on which we have proceeded.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

[Peter MacKay, Progressive Conservative, Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough, NS]

Mr. Speaker, contrary to what the President of the Treasury Board has said, the privacy commissioner and human resources development have advised us that information concerning grant applications to HRDC must remain confidential until both Quebec and federal ministers approve them.

For example, how can the minister explain that on February 20, 1997, one month prior to the minister for manpower in Quebec's approving the grant, Raglan Company received a visit from now convicted criminal, Liberal fundraiser Pierre Corbeil to improperly solicit funds?

How can the minister allow confidential information to be abused in such a blatantly criminal manner?

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

Mr. Speaker, this matter has been dealt with. It was a member of the government who indicated these allegations to the RCMP. A full inquiry has been made. All the facts were in front of the inquiry. One charge was put forward and the person has pleaded guilty. That is the end of it.

[Peter MacKay, Progressive Conservative, Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I can assure the House the file is not closed and perhaps we need more charges.

The President of the Treasury Board has someone in his office who has breached public confidence and brought his minister and the government into disrepute. To suggest otherwise is mendacious.

What steps has the minister taken to assure the Canadian—

[The Speaker]

I ask the hon. member to withdraw the word mendacious and to put the question directly.

[Peter MacKay, Progressive Conservative, Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I withdraw that word.

What steps has the minister taken to assure Canadians that his office is no longer an information source for Liberal shakedown artists like Pierre Corbeil?

[The Speaker]

The way the question is put is quite borderline. I will permit the hon. minister to answer.

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

Mr. Speaker, if the member has accusations like that, let him try to make them outside and see what happens to him.

In this case the investigation has been done. The investigation is complete. All the facts were in front of the RCMP and the matter is closed.

Human Rights

[Judi Longfield, Liberal, Whitby—Ajax, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to turn the attention of the House to the very important issue of human rights, an issue the Reform Party seldom if every raises in the House.

I am very disturbed to hear of the reported rise of hate and bias activity in British Columbia.

Can the secretary of state inform the House what initiatives she and her department have taken to combat the promotion of hatred and to prevent its growth in our communities?

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Secretary of State (Multiculturalism)(Status of Women)]

Mr. Speaker, since the government has come to power we have strengthened, under Bill C-41, hate and bias crime prevention, which the Reform Party voted against in the House.

We also happen to know that laws are not enough to stop hate and bias crime, that we need to work and to educate and to promote a society in which there is no room for hatred.

As a result my department's multiculturalism program, which again the Reform Party would cancel, is very important in working with the schools, with municipalities and with communities to educate and promote a society of intercultural understanding so that there is absolutely no—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Crowfoot.

Hepatitis C

[Jack Ramsay, Reform, Crowfoot, AB]

Mr. Speaker, why will the Prime Minister not ask Judge Krever to confirm the availability of pre-1986 testing procedures for tainted blood and to determine the number of hepatitis C victims involved in this issue? Why will he not do it? Is the real reason because he is afraid the facts will destroy the excuse for abandoning the hepatitis C victims? Is that the real reason?

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, first of all, there is no question there were tests available before 1986. Some American states had them, some parts of Europe as well. The judgment of those who know is that by January 1986 there was enough information that those responsible here in Canada should have put the tests in place. Before that it was speculation, it was uncertainty. January 1986 was the turning point.

On the numbers the member asked about, Mr. Justice Krever accepted the analysis of Health Canada's director of the laboratory centre for disease control on the number of victims.

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Charlesbourg.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

[Richard Marceau, Bloc, Charlesbourg, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we have learned that throughout the year a number of activities are planned in celebration of the RCMP's 125th anniversary.

I would like the solicitor general to tell us how much these activities will cost and where the money is coming from.

[Nick Discepola, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Solicitor General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to inform the House and the member, who refuses to accept this, that businesses interested in contributing are holding fund-raising activities throughout Canada, and that thousands of volunteers are raising money in their community to celebrate an event that is very important for Canada and for Quebec.

Aboriginal Affairs

[Gordon Earle, NDP, Halifax West, NS]

Mr. Speaker, this government is responsible in part for the crisis developing on crown lands in New Brunswick. In the New Brunswick situation what has this government done in response to the recommendations of the royal commission on aboriginal peoples that the federal government work with the provinces and aboriginal communities to improve aboriginal access to forest resources on crown lands?

[Bernard Patry, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, I think what this government has done in this regard should be pointed out. Including the first nations in certain areas, such as forestry in New Brunswick, is very important for them.

We are working with New Brunswick and with all provinces across the country. I am very pleased to point out, with respect to forestry, that the Government of New Brunswick has established a round table with New Brunswick first nations.

Hepatitis C

[Gerald Keddy, Progressive Conservative, South Shore, NS]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health. There are two huge holes in the minister's excuse not to compensate all hepatitis C victims.

First, the government was responsible for blood products prior to 1986 because it refused to allow blood users to bank their own blood, thus forcing them to use untested blood.

Second, if the government has only so much money, so be it. We still have an obligation—

[The Speaker]

The hon. Minister of Health.

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, the member is entitled to his view but the facts as laid out by Mr. Justice Krever make it plain in our view that it was in the beginning of 1986 that there was really a turning point.

That was the stage at which there was enough knowledge about testing that those responsible for the system should have put the tests in place. As a result, some 22,000 people were infected between 1986 and 1990 when the tests were put in place. As a result governments, provincial and federal, have offered cash payments.

The member goes beyond that and says all those who were sick should be paid cash. Tommy Douglas—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Calgary Centre.

[Eric C. Lowther, Reform, Calgary Centre, AB]

Mr. Speaker, provincial health ministers are showing some leadership. They are being sensitive to the needs of the tragic victims of hepatitis C and are reviewing this issue. But what are they getting from across the way? Insults and putdowns.

Now is the time for action. We are asking the Prime Minister to show some real leadership on this issue. Will the Prime Minister commit to joining with the leadership shown by the provincial health ministers and come to the table to reopen the hep C file which this minister has so heartlessly locked?

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member demonstrates that he does not have any idea what leadership is all about. He thinks leadership is the minister of health for Ontario or Quebec saying to victims infected before 1986 “Oh yes you should be compensated but we are not going to do it, let Ottawa do it”. He thinks that is leadership.

Leadership is having the courage to take a tough position on a difficult issue as a matter of principle and to stand by it. If he does not realize it, that is exactly what this government is doing.

[The Speaker]

That would bring to a close our question period.