Mr. Chair, there are three things.
The hon. member raised the question around Quebec's allocation from various funds. Again, I can send him the details, but let me make it clear for example that the health reform fund of $16 billion over five years is a per capita fund, so it is easy to work out Quebec's allotment. The medical equipment fund is a per capita fund, therefore it is easy to work out Quebec's share of that fund. Some of the other funds or spending items that the hon. member identified are third parties. Canada Health Infoway receives an additional $600 million. That goes to Canada Health Infoway, which is an entity separate and apart from the government, but one where dollars will be spent in the provinces, including Quebec, to build on the good work around things like electronic patient records and telehealth. That is ongoing.
I want the hon. member to be aware that some of the funds are per capita, which are easy to work out. Other items he has mentioned are third party entities. The dollars go there and certainly funding of specific projects will take place in the province of Quebec as in other provinces.
The hon. member referred to the cigarette packages. The member was very wise to bring this to my attention and I thank him very much for doing that.
Just the other day I had the opportunity to see some of the packages and the hon. member is absolutely right. They do not meet the labelling requirements.
After he brought it to my attention some time ago, I asked my department to begin an investigation because there are a host of issues involved with those packages of cigarettes, only one of which is around labelling. Labelling does of course speak to the fact that there are no health warnings on those packages as it relates to the dangers of cigarette smoking. Also, as far as I can tell, there is no indication of the substances; there is no information around what is contained. I think we probably have a safety issue in relation to the tobacco leaf, where it came from, how it was grown, whether it was sprayed with various things.
There are a host of issues that we need to look at in relation to those packages. I have asked my department to follow up on that. I thank the hon. member very much for bringing that to our attention.
The hon. member asked me about the creation of the agency in relation to our assisted human reproduction legislation and the important challenge that many couples, a growing number of couples, face around infertility and their desire to start a family. There will be an agency created as proposed in the legislation. In fact this is the first time there will be any regulatory framework in this area. It is an area that needs some regulatory framework. The agency will be created as proposed in the legislation.
In Quebec, I have not had the opportunity to speak to the new minister of health, Mr. Couillard, in relation to his views around this agency, but I will be meeting with Mr. Couillard tomorrow in Montreal. I will certainly be more than interested in knowing the views of the new minister of health in relation to the creation of this agency.