House of Commons Hansard #107 of the 36th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was right.
Maurice Dumas Bloc Argenteuil—Papineau, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Health could not get cabinet to accept his viewpoint. He has lost all credibility. Why does he not resign?
Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, I reflect cabinet's, the caucus' viewpoint. We are all committed to a national approach in looking after the interests of those people who contracted hepatitis C through the blood system. This is the aim of every member of caucus on this side of the House.
Alexa McDonough NDP Halifax, NS
Mr. Speaker, you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink.
The health minister had an opportunity yesterday to show leadership, to make a difference. He failed and he failed miserably. He claimed he would be going to the table with an open mind. The truth is that he went to the table with a closed wallet.
Will the health minister now admit that he sabotaged the hepatitis C talks yesterday by failing to put any federal money on the table?
Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, it is remarkable how knowledgeable all these members opposite are about a meeting which they did not attend.
The members opposite should know that the Government of Canada has a responsibility to co-ordinate the efforts of all the provincial governments which will act together to find a solution that is co-ordinated in the interest of all those who have hepatitis C as a result of the blood system.
They can say what they want about the meeting they did not attend. We are going to work away to find a solution that is in the interest of those who are affected.
Alexa McDonough NDP Halifax, NS
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Health has lost sight of reality. The victims of hepatitis C are appealing to the values of justice and compassion dear to the hearts of Canadians. Compensation for all is fair and income support for victims is compassionate.
The Minister of Health has no heart. When is the government going to call a meeting of the premiers to respond once and for all to the needs of the victims?
Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, the reality is that all those who have contracted hepatitis C need a united and co-ordinated approach by all governments in Canada. This is the process we are committed to.>
Yesterday we began, with a working group, to look at all available options and, in the coming weeks, we will clarify the government's positions in order to find a consensus. This is the responsible approach.
David Price Progressive Conservative Compton—Stanstead, QC
Mr. Speaker, speaking to the Minister of Health is like talking to a brick wall, so I will go in another direction.
The Cedarville wharf on Lake Mephremagog is an official Canada-U.S. border crossing site for boaters and snowmobilers. However, Canada Customs has decided to download the cost of maintaining the wharf to the municipality of Ogden. Now Ogden has requested assistance from the government to help maintain the wharf, since it is a border crossing, and the request has been flatly denied.
Will the Minister of National Revenue explain the government's policy regarding offloading costs to municipalities and tell this House why Ogden's request was denied?
Herb Dhaliwal LiberalMinister of National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, I am sure the hon. member knows with regard to the Cedarville wharf that the wharf was sold to the municipality by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans for one dollar.
It is the responsibility of the municipality to maintain that wharf, not the responsibility of Canada Customs. Under section 6 of the Customs Act there should be no charges imposed, just as it is across the country in all of our other facilities.
David Price Progressive Conservative Compton—Stanstead, QC
Mr. Speaker, what the minister does not seem to understand is that the other ones are federal wharves. This is not a federal wharf. It is a municipal wharf. In the meantime, the municipality is now charging other people to use the wharf.
Canada Customs is now using the wharf also, parking trailers on the wharf, using all kinds of services and not paying a cent for them. That is not fair.
Maybe the minister could try to explain how he can get away with this.
Herb Dhaliwal LiberalMinister of National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, Revenue Canada is following its normal policies where facilities are provided. This is very normal in other parts of Canada and in other locations where facilities are provided for customs people.
We would be happy to provide more information for the hon. member. Obviously he is not aware of the way we respond to the same matter across the country. I would be happy to provide more information for him.
Jim Hart Reform Okanagan—Coquihalla, BC
Mr. Speaker, the federal government has again failed the victims of tainted blood. The meeting yesterday between the federal health minister and his provincial counterparts was a disaster. It was a disaster because the senior partner, the federal Minister of Health, went to this negotiation with absolutely no position.
Is the minister prepared to accept responsibility for that failure, or will he simply blame the victims of tainted blood for wanting justice?
Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, we all understand why it is in the interest of the member to speak that way. It is part of the political process for him, I suppose.
Those of us who were at the meeting know there is a continuing interest on the part of provincial governments to find a co-ordinated response to this national tragedy and to find a way to deal with the matter that is in the interest of all those who got hepatitis C through the blood system.
The member and his colleagues can prattle on about what they think happened yesterday, but I am here to tell them what happened yesterday. What happened yesterday was the first step toward another co-ordinated approach to find a national—
Hepatitis COral Question Period
The Deputy Speaker
The hon. member for Okanagan—Coquihalla.
Jim Hart Reform Okanagan—Coquihalla, BC
Mr. Speaker, all Canadians heard the government's position yesterday from the victims of hepatitis C who were at the meeting. The government's position lacks compassion and is extreme.
The person to blame is the Prime Minister of Canada. The Prime Minister of Canada has been teasing the victims of hepatitis C. The Minister of Health for weeks has been holding out hope that a new deal would be reached and nothing new was produced yesterday.
What is the government doing? What kind of twisted game is being played?
Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, I can tell the member what we are doing. We are working with all governments in the country to find a way to deal with the interest of all those who got hepatitis C through the blood system.
Yesterday at the meeting of ministers there was strong agreement that it is not in the interest of the people who got hepatitis C for governments to act unilaterally. The way to deal with the matter is to look at what care is needed, efforts to find cures and treatments, and efforts to deal with the needs of those who are sick or have other compelling circumstances. Doing that together is the answer. Yesterday was an important milestone on the road—
Jocelyne Girard-Bujold Bloc Jonquière, QC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Deputy Prime Minister.
The government has a responsibility to ensure the enforcement of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Yesterday, the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs once again added fuel to the fire by refusing to clearly condemn the demonstrations in opposition to David Levine's hiring to head the Ottawa Hospital.
By sanctioning this witch-hunt at Mr. Levine's expense, is the government not sending a message that the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms does not apply to Quebec sovereignists or those under suspicion of being sovereignists?
Herb Gray LiberalDeputy Prime Minister
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to see that the Bloc Quebecois is now fully accepting the Canadian Constitution, including the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Jocelyne Girard-Bujold Bloc Jonquière, QC
Mr. Speaker, on the one side, we have the hon. member for Carleton—Gloucester also adding fuel to the fire by calling for Mr. Levine's dismissal because of his alleged political views. On the other, we have the hon. member for Ottawa—Vanier making far more respectful comments.
What, exactly, is the government position?
Don Boudria LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, first of all, the federal government is not the one to hire or fire hospital directors, as you know. That is the role of the hospital board.
I too am very pleased to hear about the Bloc Quebecois' respect for the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, particularly when, on September 29, 1994, the Deputy Premier of Quebec made a statement concerning a government employee to the effect that “A diplomat representing Quebec abroad who is unable to present the aspect of Quebec reality that is our path toward sovereignty is not qualified for his job”.
Maurice Vellacott Reform Wanuskewin, SK
Mr. Speaker, on the hepatitis C issue, the health minister does not even know how to get to the end of a parade. How would we expect him to get to the head of the parade and show some compassion when the Prime Minister has directed or dictated to him otherwise?
Why does this health minister not simply admit that the Prime Minister ordered him not to offer compensation to all hepatitis C victims?
Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, the government is committed to finding a way, with other governments in Canada, to assist those who contracted hepatitis C through the blood system. Yesterday we established a working group that will examine all options which will enable us to do that.
I think Canadians know, and certainly those infected with hepatitis C through the blood system know, that unilateral action by one province or another is not the answer. A co-ordinated approach is necessary, and it is that approach to which we are committed.
Maurice Vellacott Reform Wanuskewin, SK
Mr. Speaker, he very typically avoided the question again. The health minister was simply obeying his master in all this. If his master, the Prime Minister, had shown some leadership, hepatitis C victims would not be worrying today about how they will care for their families.
The Prime Minister has stubbornly refused to show compassion so we do not have a fair deal today. Why is the Prime Minister proving to be the single greatest obstacle to reaching an agreement that will end the oppression of these people?
Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, I remind the member that it is through the leadership of the Prime Minister and his government that 22,000 people who contracted hepatitis C through the blood system have been offered very reasonable compensation and assistance.
That is the kind of leadership that galvanized the provincial ministers who were initially unwilling to move and that resulted in a very significant change in that regard.
Réal Ménard Bloc Hochelaga—Maisonneuve, QC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.
A protectionist American law restricts the hiring of foreign players by any major baseball team by limiting to 50 the number of work permits for non-American players coming up through their minor league system. A perverse consequence of this legislation is that Canadian baseball players need an American work permit to play with the Ottawa Lynx.
Does the minister think it is right that a protectionist American law should also apply in Canada and prevent Canadian players from playing baseball in their own country?
Herb Gray LiberalDeputy Prime Minister
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member has raised an interesting question that has more to do with American than Canadian law.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, we will take the question under advisement and provide the hon. member with a more complete answer at a later date.