Mr. Speaker, I advise the hon. member that if one expects an immediate decision from NAFTA one may be very disappointed. These are lengthy labyrinthine processes. The issue was raised with me because the answers require extensive research and my opinion was asked. I simply said that there will be time, but it is a matter that we need to discuss with the provinces and to point out to the premier of Alberta that this is a matter of concern. If the issue would arise as a practical matter, there are intermediate legal steps that we could take to block any action, and we would take them.
I think it is important not to jump into a case-controversy situation before it exists. That is why I stress the necessity for study and caution before acting. As far as approaches in this government are concerned, my constituency has a very large number of medical practitioners, professors of medicine and others. They have been educating me in their discipline, which I admire and respect. It is part of my response to them that I have campaigned for the last three or four years to establish the centres for innovation, those special centres for medical research that are parts of the last two, three, four federal budgets.
Most of my colleagues are getting the message, just as I think every member on the other side of the House is getting the message that the principle of universality of access to medical care is fundamental to Canadians. If it is threatened in any way in the interstices of federal-provincial relations, we will come down on the federal side. If there is no threat or if the actions of the provinces can be reconciled with those principles, we would be in my view ignoring our responsibilities as part of the federal system if we put it in issue.
As things stand we have full powers. We have not at the present time on the legal advice given to the Minister of Justice found a case warranting action of a punitive nature against a province.