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.