Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member from the Bloc Quebecois.
We have an enormous opportunity to take a leadership role in something that has never been done before, something that the Minister of Human Resources Development, something that the Minister of Health and the Minister of Justice can participate in.
If these ministers were to get their colleagues in the provincial government to come together at one point to deal with the precursors affecting the health care of Canadians, the work that has been done by members across the way such as the member from Moncton who played a leadership role would address the precursors of conflict by dealing with children in the first eight years of life.
We can use the available data in a utilized program based on previous experience around the world that has demonstrated profound impacts upon poverty, upon teen pregnancies, upon keeping kids in school longer, and upon the health and welfare of children. It will only happen if the federal government takes a leadership role. It will only happen if the federal ministers call their provincial counterparts together anywhere in the country to form an integrated approach.
This would have the most profound cost saving and humanitarian effect on children based on facts and on existing programs and would save the lives of a lot of people. It is rooted in preventing these problems rather than managing them.
Many of my colleagues and I would be very happy to work with members on the other side to make this a reality. The head start program exemplifies a program which can and should be employed across the country using existing resources.