Madam Speaker, first I would like to add my voice to those of my colleagues to congratulate and thank the member for Winnipeg North Centre, whom I know very well since we work together on the Standing Committee on Health.
I know that the well-being of people in her riding and of Canadians in general has always been her first priority. Obviously, being pragmatic, she wants to take concrete measures to deal with an important problem for children.
As our colleague from the Canadian Alliance said, we are the protectors of children in a way because the problem we are debating is certainly detrimental to mothers, but it is even more detrimental to children.
I believe that as parliamentarians we have a responsibility to make sure that we do all we can in the area of prevention.
I think the motion brought forward by the member for Winnipeg North Centre is interesting because it forces us to reflect on the balance between coercion and prevention that must exist in the legislative tools available to us.
Recently in the House we have been reflecting a lot on these issues. Last Friday, another member of the NDP proposed that the month of May be dedicated to the prevention of hepatitis. He reminded us that there are seven types of hepatitis and that one way to prevent this disease is, of course, through information.
Today, his colleague from Winnipeg North Centre is taking over to remind us that fetal alcohol syndrome is preventable.
We all know people afflicted by illness. Some suffer from cerebral palsy, others from severe diabetes, others yet from heart disease. This is obviously very tragic on a personal level, but it is different perhaps from fetal alcohol syndrome in that FAS is, in a way, the result of a behaviour.
This behaviour can be avoided. It can be avoided if we put everything into play socially so there is maximum information available to those who are primarily responsible, since they give life, carry the children and, of course, are women. I am not saying they have sole responsibility.
I want to join with the member for Winnipeg Centre North. I think our ridings are quite similar. My riding is in the centre of Montreal, in the eastern central part, to be more precise. I too in my riding have a high number of underprivileged people. It is an industrial neighbourhood which underwent a major process of de-industrialization in the early 1980s.
I do not know if people recall, but there was a big crisis in the shipbuilding industry in the early 1980s. There was a big crisis in the traditional industries linked to textiles and metallurgy, known as the soft sector, and there was a major crisis in the shoe industry.
These three sectors were central to the economic life of the riding of Hochelaga—Maisonneuve. It is a riding with a high number of underprivileged people. It is clear that fetal alcohol syndrome is to be found in communities with high levels of poverty. In this regard, we can ask ourselves as parliamentarians why there is more poverty in certain communities than in others.
There are of course personal variables. There are variables relating to the manufacturing profile and to the economic profile of our ridings. But in the life of an individual, sometimes things go badly. We lose confidence in the system. I would say there are unwanted pregnancies sometimes. There are people who plan pregnancies, who want to have a child and for whom doing so gives meaning to life. I think this is true for most people.
There are probably circumstances in life where if a pregnancy is imposed, unwanted, accidental, a woman might be tempted to turn to alcohol. When things are not going well, when we are depressed, when we lose confidence, when we are in an environment where we feel useless, alcohol may unfortunately become a form of escape. This is why the proposal of the hon. member for Winnipeg North Centre makes such sense.
In my speeches I always like to give examples. No member of parliament could present a bill to force someone to make a success of his or her life. From a legislative point of view, we cannot force people to do so. What we can do as parliamentarians is provide them with tools and training so they are equipped as best as they possibly can be to go through life, and particularly rough times.
The hon. member for Winnipeg North Centre is asking us to rely on information. Sometimes, pregnant women may not be adequately informed. If they see this warning on alcoholic beverages—wine, beer and other spirits—we can assume that it will deter them from drinking excessively.
Earlier, the parliamentary secretary and member for Anjou—Rivière-des-Prairies told us that this motion must be part of a set of means. I am pleased to learn that in May an information campaign will be launched with the release of a brochure and a poster. I believe that all these tools can help us beat fetal alcohol syndrome.
I see that I only have three minutes left. I promised to take only eight minutes because I know that there are discussions between the parties to leave more time for the hon. member for Winnipeg North Centre.
So I will conclude by congratulating the hon. member and asking for a unanimous vote on her motion.