Supplementary question, Mr. Speaker. Can the minister tell us exactly when she took action to inform other centres of the serious deficiencies identified in Toronto?
House of Commons photoWon her last election, in 2006, with 50% of the vote.
Red Cross Blood Centre In Toronto September 19th, 1994
Supplementary question, Mr. Speaker. Can the minister tell us exactly when she took action to inform other centres of the serious deficiencies identified in Toronto?
Red Cross Blood Centre In Toronto September 19th, 1994
My question is for the Minister of Health. In a press conference held last Monday, the Minister of Health tried to reassure the Canadian people following investigations conducted by the United States Drug and Food Administration, which revealed several deficiencies in the operation of the Red Cross blood centre in Toronto.
Although she has had the facts for a while now, why did the minister wait until the telecast to inform Canadians about the serious control problems at the Red Cross centre in Toronto?
Committees Of The House June 21st, 1994
Mr. Speaker, I would like to inform the House that the Bloc Quebecois, the Official Opposition, has tabled a dissenting minority report that the Standing Committee on Health has agreed to attach to the majority report tabled by my colleague from Burin-St. George's.
It is important to recall that the members of the Bloc Quebecois are in favour of implementing true measures designed to protect public health and improve the health of Quebecers and Canadians. We feel that the Standing Committee on Health, despite its best efforts, does not have the tools required to argue conclusively for plain packaging of tobacco products.
While the federal health department's own study is ongoing and will not be completed before the end of the year, introducing plain tobacco packaging is not justified by any testimony that was given before the Standing Committee on Health. What is more, serious concerns were raised about violations of Canada's international trade obligations under the free trade agreement and NAFTA, about substantial losses of direct and indirect jobs and finally about counterfeiting, smuggling and marketing.
The report presented by the members of the Bloc Quebecois sets out our concerns over plain packaging of tobacco products and the issues involved in a true public health policy. We are favourable to any measure that is effective, efficient, sustainable and consistent with the government's obligations with respect to the industry, workers and domestic and international trade. Neutral packaging simply does not meet these requirements, as far as we can tell.
Tainted Blood June 14th, 1994
I have a supplemental, Mr. Speaker.
Can the minister tell us whether part of the additional funds provided to the Krever commission are earmarked for the Canadian Hemophilia Society so that it can participate fully in the inquiry and protect the interests of its members who are the principal victims of this situation?
Tainted Blood June 14th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health. The extension of the tainted blood inquiry will result in additional costs to the government. The inquiry presided by Judge Krever will cost $11 million, or four times the initial budget of $2.5 million.
My question is as follows: Will the Minister of Health confirm that the government has granted a further $8.5 million to the Krever commission to enable it to carry out its mandate adequately?
Tobacco Advertising June 6th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, before investing $55 million in a new advertising campaign with an agency very well known to the Minister of Human Resources Development, what new guarantees of success does the Minister now have, since the last campaign, as she admitted herself, has been a complete failure?
Tobacco Advertising June 6th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health.
On May 31 last, the Minister announced that the government would allocate $55 million for the development of an advertising campaign aimed mostly at young people to make them aware of the damaging effects of tobacco.
Can the Minister of Health tell us whether the government intends to call for tenders for a $55 million advertising contract, or are we to understand that the McKim Communications agency will be responsible for this advertising campaign through the extension of its previous contract?
Hepatitis C June 2nd, 1994
Mr. Speaker, if the Red Cross is preparing to trace people, there is a serious problem.
Are we to understand that the minister is not taking any action because she is opposed to the idea of compensating individuals who were infected with the hepatitis C virus as a result of blood transfusion?
Hepatitis C June 2nd, 1994
Mr. Speaker, does the minister endorse what was said by the spokesperson for her government, who pointed out that this kind of initiative would not be very useful because there is no effective treatment for this disease?
Does the minister still deny there is a risk of spreading the hepatitis C virus if people are not informed?
Hepatitis C June 2nd, 1994
Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of Health. Because the federal government refuses to take its responsibilities seriously, the Red Cross is about to launch a large-scale operation to trace thousands of carriers of the hepatitis C virus who were infected as a result of blood transfusions. The Red Cross spokesperson claimed, and rightly so, that a person who received a blood transfusion had the right to know whether he had been exposed to the hepatitis C virus.
How can the Minister of Health, who has refused to take her responsibilities seriously on this issue, maintain her claim that it is impossible to trace people who were infected with the hepatitis C virus as a result of a blood transfusion, when the Red Cross is preparing to do so?