Madam Speaker, let's look at the facts supported by some of the individuals who are much more involved in this issue than any of us in the House.
At the time we voted in the House it was believed that about 20,000 people would be eligible for the $1.2 billion that was set aside in the program. In the three years since the Red Cross settlement, 4,804 individuals were in that group. The numbers are 20% less than what people thought at the time. Some members opposite have said they knew there were different numbers. Look, it is the government's responsibility to be prudent and to make sure we are providing adequately.
The group of individuals is significantly smaller. The money that has been set aside has grown because the markets have done better than some people anticipated, compared to 1998.
Four provinces have set up their own compensation funds: Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, and British Columbia. That was not what this side of the House understood at the time. We are continuing to work with provincial governments. I encourage my provincial counterparts to tell us what they have done with the moneys that have been invested. We have to make sure that we are providing support to the individuals who have hepatitis C. We have to make sure that we are addressing their day to day issues and their health issues. We have to make sure that we are providing the best care, because that is what we are all interested in.
We on this side of the House worked with information we had at the time. We are certainly interested in supporting these individuals. There is no cut-off date for those in the 1986-to-1990 group. We do have a whole new set of hard numbers to deal with that are very different from what we prudently accounted for.
The Minister of Health, with every good reason, is looking at the situation. He is talking to the finance department. He has to talk to the group that is covered. It was their money that was set aside. He is working with individuals, some of whom I would recognize are in the House tonight--if I were allowed to recognize people who are in the chamber, other than the Speaker--people I have known for many years and who I continue to work with. We will continue to do that.
I encourage the minister and cabinet and House colleagues from all parties to continue to work to address these important issues. We have to make sure that we have the best health care system to meet the needs of all Canadians. We have to continue to be vigilant in making sure that no other group is affected in the same way. All members could agree on that as well. We have to make sure that our health care system, paid for by the government and all Canadians, is there to serve and to protect and to aid us rather than cause us harm. I think all members of the House could agree on that. I hope they will encourage the minister to work on a solution.