Mr. Chair, I appreciate the opportunity to ask the Minister of Health a few questions.
I want to begin with a question that I have been raising for three and half years now. It has to do with a labelling issue. The minister will know what I speak about and that of course is the motion passed by this House requiring labels on all alcohol beverage containers, liquor bottles, wine bottles and beer bottles, to warn women of the dangers of drinking while pregnant. This is important because of the need to help prevent fetal alcohol syndrome, which is such a debilitating condition, so costly for the individual in human terms and costly to all of us because of the supports that are required over the lifetime of that person.
I know that in the past his predecessors have said, “We are studying it”. That is one answer I have received. Another answer is, “We are not sure if it is going to work, so let us put our efforts into things that we think are going to work”.
This motion was passed so resoundingly by the House because it was felt to be one tool in our arsenal kit, one way to help prevent fetal alcohol syndrome. It was felt that even if we prevented one FAS situation, it would be worth it.
My question for the minister is, now that he has a fresh start and he is new to this whole area, would he give serious consideration to this idea and consider implementing this initiative and respecting the will of Parliament?