Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to respond to the hon. member for Halifax West on behalf of the Minister of Health regarding allegations about the health department.
These scientists have aired their concerns a number of times: For example, with the Public Service Staff Relations Board, PSSRB in September 1998 and at an October 22, 1998 and May 3, 1999 hearing of the Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Forestry.
Following two days of testimony and volumes of information, the department found that scientists did not, through their testimony or documents, provide evidence to support their complaints. In fact the PSSRB dismissed all complaints made by Health Canada employees.
The department has gone to every effort to make certain that these scientists' concerns are heard and addressed and in fact, if there are concerns the scientists may have, they should bring them to the department where dispute resolution mechanisms are well in place.
No information on products is kept from scientists doing reviews and they have access to all information submitted and to the world literature on any subject.
Further, the deputy minister appeared before the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry on May 13. Let me repeat what he told them in the other place. He told the committee that there are 6,000 heroes at Health Canada, dedicated staff who work every day and many nights and weekends to protect the health and safety of Canadians.
Let it be perfectly clear that the product at issue, rBST, has been reviewed within Health Canada for more than nine years and has been evaluated internationally. Some countries have approved it and some have not. Health Canada issued a non-compliance for rBST on January 14. For rBST injected animals there were concerns related to animal health and safety.
There is no gag order. This should be obvious from the very fact that the scientists provided hours of testimony to the Senate committee at both hearings. In fact we were advised very clearly by the department that it was its obligation to do so.