Debates of May 4th, 1998

International Policy

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Mr. Speaker, according to news reports, three more Cuban political prisoners will be arriving in Canada very shortly.

This is in addition to the 14 who were freed last month and sent to Canada. This represents an important event for this country.

The Reform Party had tried to discredit the Prime Minister's recent visit to Cuba here in this House. These events prove that the Liberal government does not need any lectures from Reform about international policy.

This is proof that our Prime Minister is attaining his objectives, and Reform members should be ashamed of their petty attitude.

Our government has opted for persuasion rather than wholesale denunciation, which seems to be the Reform approach.

Manitoba

[Rick Borotsik, Progressive Conservative, Brandon—Souris, MB]

Mr. Speaker, it is with a great deal of pride that I rise today to congratulate Premier Gary Filmon on the upcoming 10th anniversary of his election as premier of the dynamic province of Manitoba.

Both the province and the premier have much to be congratulated for. Despite the devastating flood last year the Manitoba economy is on track to post one of the strongest growth rates in this country this year and next. As well, the province posted the lowest unemployment rate in 15 years at 5.7%. Much of the credit is due to the Filmon government's tradition of delivering on its promises of sound fiscal management. Today the province has the toughest anti-deficit legislation in Canada and has balanced its books in the last four years.

While Canadians across this country remain impressed with the Filmon administration's numerous fiscal achievements, they also recognize the premier's commitment to Canada's social programs, one of the most important being health care. In spite of federal transfer cuts in the last budget Manitoba's last budget detailed an additional $100 million in spending on health care.

The premier does embody the true principles of Canadian tradition, socially progressive and fiscally conservative.

Calgary Declaration

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Verchères, QC]

Mr. Speaker, a recent COMQUEST-Léger & Léger poll gives us some important information on Canada's ultimate response to the results of the 1995 referendum.

Ninety-four per cent of Canadians and Quebeckers are of the opinion that the Calgary declaration will not settle the constitutional question and, as usual, a heavy majority of Canadians, 60%, do not wish to see the Constitution amended to include legal clauses concerning the distinct society.

Once again, Canada's last offer has already been rejected both by Canadians, because it gives Quebec too much, and by Quebeckers, because it represents nothing more than the constitutional status quo.

We state again in this House that only Quebec sovereignty, coupled with a partnership agreement with Canada, can free us from this constitutional impasse.

Cuba

[Paddy Torsney, Liberal, Burlington, ON]

Mr. Speaker, members of this Chamber and all Canadians greeted news accounts from Havana this morning with excitement. Family members of Cuban political prisoners Guillermo Sambra Ferrandiz, Esperanza Micaela Atencio de la Rosa and Jose Miranda Acosta received word this weekend from the Cuban commission for human rights and national reconciliation that these individuals may be headed to Canada soon.

Coming fast on the heels of the Prime Minister's groundbreaking visit to Cuba last week, a visit which the Reform Party so adamantly protested, it is obvious that the Prime Minister's policy on constructive engagement works. In his meetings with President Fidel Castro the Prime Minister tackled the human rights issues and pushed for the release of political prisoners.

All members will agree this very significant announcement is an important step in human rights negotiations between our two countries. Congratulations to the Prime Minister.

Hepatitis C

[Gerry Ritz, Reform, Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK]

Mr. Speaker, we know this government has a tough time treating all Canadians equally.

We heard debates last week about hep C victims who have to consult their calendars to see if the federal blood supply made them sick on a date convenient for federal lawyers. It is clear this government needs some big lessons on how to treat citizens fairly and equally. When it comes to the Canadian family we are not all alike but we should expect our government to treat us all equally.

Instead we have a government that offers a child care deduction to parents who are both working to support their tax burden but cannot see the value in a parent staying home to take care of their own children.

When 70% of Canadians say they wish they could afford to stay home with their children and 90% say it is very important to do so, when will this government listen to the public and bring fairness to the tax code?

Elizabeth Fry Week

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

Mr. Speaker, the week of May 4 is National Elizabeth Fry week during which time Elizabeth Fry societies across the country will hold activities to enhance public awareness and education regarding the circumstances of women involved in the criminal justice system.

National Elizabeth Fry Society week is always the week preceding Mother's Day as the majority of women who come in conflict with the law are mothers. In fact, the majority of these women were the sole supporters of their families at the time they were incarcerated.

When mothers are sentenced to prison their children are sentenced to separation through no fault of their own. On the occasion of national Elizabeth Fry week let us support the important role of the Elizabeth Fry Society in identifying community based alternatives to costly incarceration for non-violent offenders.

Hepatitis C

[Preston Manning, Reform, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, first Quebec opened the door and today Ontario has pledged to pay compensation to the pre-1986 victims of hepatitis C on the same basis as the existing package. The federal government can therefore no longer pretend that there is unanimous provincial consent for its position.

This issue is not going to be resolved by more conference calls, press releases or insults. When is the Prime Minister going to take personal responsibility for resolving this crisis by agreeing to renegotiate the compensation package?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, just before Question Period we learned through the news of the Government of Ontario's announcement. We of course received the Government of Ontario's press release but have not had direct contact from it. Therefore I think our first step should be to contact the Ontario government and get precise information on exactly what it has in mind.

[Preston Manning, Reform, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, Premier Harris has shown some real leadership in this matter by agreeing to open up the compensation package and agreeing to pay his fair share.

For a response, instead of the federal government saying “This is encouraging and interesting, we are prepared to sit down and talk about it”, all we hear is another dull non-answer which is the only type of answer we ever get from the Deputy Prime Minister.

When is the Prime Minister and the federal government going to stop being part of the problem and start being part of the solution?

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, as the Deputy Prime Minister has said, we learned just moments ago of the apparent change in Ontario's position, I think the third position in the last five days.

I think we should get the particulars on Ontario's position. This is obviously a new and important development. It is a departure from the position that had been shared by all governments very recently. We will get the particulars on Ontario's position and respond to the hon. Leader of the Opposition when it is fully understood.

[Preston Manning, Reform, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the health minister is obviously out of the loop. Canadians do not want to hear from this health minister again. He is a discredited health minister. The only reason he should be on his feet is to announce a renegotiation of the compensation package or to announce his resignation. Which will it be?

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, the history of this better shows that had it not been for the federal government, there would have been no compensation package at all.

When we did come together, we developed a position that all governments agreed to in relation to those infected before 1986. Today's development is a new one. The ground has moved and an important partner has changed its position.

I am telling the hon. Leader of the Opposition that we will take that position into account. When we understand fully what Ontario is saying, we will respond.

[Chuck Strahl, Reform, Fraser Valley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are begging for some leadership from this government and they have not seen leadership on this file now for over four weeks. The Ontario government has changed its position. The government, instead of coming alongside and saying it will work with it, is just muddying the waters and saying it will look into it.

Back when Mr. Trudeau was Prime Minister, a Red Cross researcher named Dr. Moore called for testing of the blood supply. Other countries were doing it and for nine years the Liberal government of the day chose to ignore them.

Is it not true that the real reason the Prime Minister will not compensate victims in the pre-1986 period is that he does not want the Liberal government of the day implicated in this tragedy? Is that not the truth?

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, when the ministers of health came together a couple of times on this issue, we developed a position that we all shared.

Today Ontario has taken a different position. That is an important development. I spoke to Clay Serby, who is the chair of the provincial ministers this year, just before two o'clock. He agrees that ministers of health should look again at this issue.

Once we understand what the position of Ontario is, we will be in a position to respond to the question put by the Leader of the Opposition.

[Chuck Strahl, Reform, Fraser Valley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the position of the Ontario government is apparently that it wants to compensate the pre-1986 victims. We want them to. Victims rights groups say it should happen. The only holdout now is the federal government.

France and Japan had poison blood problems too. A lot of their senior bureaucrats were charged and convicted. Some of them ended up in jail.

In Canada we have a criminal investigation about the destruction of evidence. Now Dr. Brill-Edwards who, was a senior scientist in the health protection branch, has revealed the truth about why the Liberal government will not compensate for the pre-1986 period. The truth is that they knew about the evidence and failed to act—

[The Speaker]

The hon. Deputy Prime Minister.

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the fact is that as late as Friday afternoon, Clay Serby, the NDP health minister, said that he was speaking on behalf of all the provinces. He said that the provinces are not calling on Ottawa to extend the compensation package.

We heard through the news about Ontario. I think it is only reasonable that we be in touch with Mr. Serby and hear what the position is with respect to all the provinces.

[Gilles Duceppe, Bloc, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, not only are nearly half the members of the House in favour of compensating all victims of hepatitis C infected through blood products, they are joined by at least three provinces, which represent nearly 66% of the people of Canada.

With such massive support for all victims, how can the Prime Minister let his Minister of Health continue to say at every opportunity that the file on the victims not compensated is now closed?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the question of the hon. member indicates why we need more information. Mr. Harris has today accepted responsibility for victims of hepatitis C prior to 1986 and would like to share compensation with the federal government.

The Government of Quebec is not prepared to pay any compensation, according to what Premier Bouchard said last week. He mistakenly said that the burden is a federal burden only. That is why we need more information.

[Gilles Duceppe, Bloc, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I remind the Deputy Prime Minister that the unanimous motion of the National Assembly was made by the Liberal Party of Quebec and supported by its new leader, Jean Charest, a reasonable man, according to the Prime Minister.

Will the Deputy Prime Minister finally acknowledge that the provinces are doing more than their share given the cuts in transfer payments this government has imposed on them?

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, something important happened this morning: Ontario changed its position. We must now find out from Ontario the details of its new position and also find out whether Quebec will take the same position and provide a financial contribution for those infected before 1986.

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Roberval, QC]

Mr. Speaker, if the Minister of Health wants to talk about money, that is what we will do. The Prime Minister has said on many occasions that his government would pay the greater part of the compensation for hepatitis C victims. Compensation of $1.1 billion has been offered, but there remains the $1.6 billion in care needed by victims that will be paid by the provinces.

Will the Deputy Prime Minister or the Minister of Health admit that, by limiting its contribution to $800 million out of a total of $2.7 billion to cover the cost of hepatitis C, and thus footing only 30% of the bill, Ottawa has done not too badly?

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, the costs of the health care system are paid by the federal government and by the provinces. Each year, we transfer money to the provinces for the health care system.

Regarding compensation of victims, I again wonder whether Quebec will be contributing financially for those victims infected before 1986, as Ontario has apparently done.

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Roberval, QC]

Mr. Speaker, when the Minister of Health says that the federal government pays the cost of health care, he forgets to point out that transfer payments have been frozen at $12.5 billion. Hepatitis C victims or not, transfers have been cut and then frozen.

Does the minister not understand that those with hepatitis C are victims twice over, first because of the government's incompetence and now because of its stubbornness?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I believe my hon. colleague is forgetting about equalization payments and tax points, which are forms of transfer made by the federal government to the provinces for medical care.

It is therefore completely erroneous of him to suggest that all payments for medical care come solely from provincial taxpayers' pockets. Each year, the federal government pays Quebec and the other provinces millions and millions of dollars for medical care.