Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Minister of Health. I think he will agree with me when I say that the economic conditions in which people live have an impact on their health. I would like to read an excerpt from a press release issued last Friday by the Federation of Paper and Forest Workers. I will read it and then I am anxious to hear the minister's comments.
The federal government missed another opportunity to help the forest industry workers affected by one of the worst crises in its history, criticizes the Federation of Paper and Forest Workers (FTPF-CSN).
The Conservatives...could have used the March 19 budget to establish a program for older worker adjustment (POWA), which has been called for by many groups, including the CSN, to support older workers who have lost their jobs since the beginning of the crisis that is hitting the forest industry and who have no opportunity to retrain.
In the context of his ministerial duties, should the Minister of Health not pressure the government to ensure that these older workers have minimum financial security so that they may maintain the living standards they need to remain healthy?