Debates of April 26th, 1999

Division No. 388

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Some hon. members]

No.

[The Speaker]

All those in favour of the motion will please say yea.

[Some hon. members]

Yea.

[The Speaker]

All those opposed will please say nay.

[Some hon. members]

Nay.

[The Speaker]

In my opinion the nays have it.

And more than five members having risen:

(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)

Division No. 389

[The Speaker]

I declare the motion carried. Accordingly the bill stands referred to the Standing Committee on Natural Resources and Government Operations.

(Bill read the second time and referred to a committee)

A motion to adjourn the House under Standing Order 38 deemed to have been moved.

[Paul Szabo, Liberal, Mississauga South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, recently I had an opportunity to pose a question to the Minister of Health with regard to the subject matter of breast milk substitutes.

I raised it because it had come to my attention through some research I was doing on early childhood development issues that Canada supported a WHO position with regard to breast milk substitutes. It included such things as no samples to be provided in hospitals, no pictures of babies to be on the labelling, no advertising, and a number of other positions which basically said that breast milk substitutes were not to be represented as a viable or as an important alternative for infant nutrition. The majority of hospitals do not follow those rules. They provide substantial samples, et cetera of breast milk substitutes.

In doing some of this work, I wanted to share with the House a little bit of information with regard to the importance of breast feeding. The research highlighted the significant benefits of breast feeding. It even found a lower incidence of matters such as sudden infant death syndrome, accidental deaths and sicknesses causing deaths. The exposure to a broader range of environmental risks, travel risks, et cetera were all associated with circumstances where breast feeding did not take place.

The research is very clear. The health benefits of breast feeding cannot be overstated.

In 1998 the Canadian Paediatric Society announced its unanimous endorsement with the World Health Organization's new recommended guidelines that mothers should breast feed for at least one year for optimal health outcomes of their children. The president of the Canadian Paediatric Society also announced that it would not be party to any contraventions of the WHO code and that it would not be involved in the distribution or promotion of breast milk substitutes.

Research on breast feeding clearly confirms its importance for optimal infant health. It also enhances the bond between the mother and the child which is a significant factor affecting healthy outcomes. In addition, and I found this very interesting, a family can save up to $4,000 in the first year on the cost of baby formula which significantly affects the economics of a decision to provide direct parental care. Dr. Fraser Mustard said: “Breast feeding can provide a perfect nutritional and emotional nurturing to endow an infant with the important capacity needed for a full and productive life”.

With that as background, I want to again pose the question to the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health with regard to Canada's position on the WHO recommended guidelines on breast milk substitutes. It seems to me that endorsing those without enforcing them has a contradiction, particularly when it means so much to the healthy outcomes of our children. I ask the parliamentary secretary for her comments.

[Elinor Caplan, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge the member's interest in promoting infant breast-feeding as the most optimal form of feeding of infants.

At the World Health Assembly in May 1981, Canada and 117 other countries strongly endorsed a code of marketing of breast milk substitution. Canada has implemented the code through collaboration, education and health promotion. Health Canada continues to support this position and has consistently promoted breast-feeding as the optimal form of infant nutrition.

The promotion of breast-feeding is an integral part of several Health Canada programs. These include the postpartum parent support program, a video entitled “Welcome to Parenting”, the “Breastfeeding Promotional Kit”, “Breastfeeding—A Selected Bibliography and Resource Guide” and two widely distributed breast-feeding pamphlets “10 Great Reasons to Breastfeed” and “10 Valuable Tips for Successful Breastfeeding”.

The National Breastfeeding Guidelines for Health Care Providers, 1996, developed by the Canadian Institute for Child Health, has been distributed by Health Canada to each postpartum parental support group.

The international code of marketing of breast milk substitutes has markedly influenced actions to promote breast-feeding in Canada and the results have been positive. When given accurate and reliable information, mothers and health professionals make the correct choices to support appropriate infant nutrition through breast-feeding.

This is an ongoing effort by Health Canada. It is one that we are working co-operatively with all of our partners. We believe that the actions we have taken are resulting in the best approach for achieving widespread breast-feeding for infants in Canada. I applaud the member's efforts in raising this issue. We will continue to support these actions.

[The Speaker]

The motion to adjourn the House is now deemed to have been adopted. Accordingly this House stands adjourned until tomorrow at 10 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).

(The House adjourned at 7.02 p.m.)