Lost his last election, in 2006, with 38% of the vote.
Hepatitis C May 6th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, in a great many cases, files are scrutinized much more closely.
A few years ago, when there was a considerable increase in the number of applications, the auditor general requested that we ensure that those approved for disability pensions did indeed meet the criteria proposed in the legislation.
We are in the process of appointing more people to the legal boards and tribunals in order to ensure that rulings can be made as quickly as possible.
Hepatitis C May 6th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, with respect to hepatitis C victims, my disability pension officials have already been in touch with doctors and those who evaluate files so that we can be sure that, when hepatitis C victims meet with our experts, doctors in particular, they will be well treated, their symptoms properly identified and appropriate referrals made.
As for the file backlog, we are aware that there are sometimes delays. As you know, the auditor general has requested that we look—
Atlantic Groundfish Strategy May 6th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, we are so keenly aware of the importance of these 30,000 people in Atlantic Canada the hon. member referred to that we, as a government, established this strategy back in 1993-94. So we cannot be accused of not doing our job, quite the contrary.
I can assure you that we are being vigilant and that we have consulted closely with the communities and the provinces concerned. We have a good idea of the situation. We know this is a period of intense stress for many people right now. But the strategy will nonetheless end in August, and by then, we will be ready to act.
Atlantic Groundfish Strategy May 6th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, these past four years, the Atlantic groundfish strategy has provided assistance to fishers and plant workers to the tune of $1.9 billion.
The program will end in August 1998, and I can assure you that my cabinet colleagues and I are working very hard right now, based on the information available to us, to help those who will be living in an environment where, unfortunately, there are much fewer fish than we had hoped.
However, we do realize they are going through a tough time right now. This is a stressful time, but we are—
Fisheries May 5th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I can inform the member and every member in the House that we are working very hard on the post-TAGS environment.
We have done a lot of consultation through the Harrigan report. We have done evaluations of the TAGS program. We are determined to do the best we can for the individuals and the communities.
We will be working in partnership with the provinces in coming weeks and months to make sure that individuals can meet the post-TAGS environment in the best possible way.
Assistance To Ice Storm Victims May 5th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I have to interpret the words of the member for Saint-Hyacinthe as thanks for the $45 million already spent, particularly in his riding.
I think our department and our government provided a lot of help to the maple syrup producers who were affected. I made a quick trip to the region. The people there are quite happy.
The other $5 million was to go for equipment and to provide easier access for workers not eligible for employment insurance. If the member for Saint-Hyacinthe did not understand that, then he has not yet grasped how the system works.
Assistance To Ice Storm Victims May 5th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot for giving me another opportunity to tell this House how quickly we acted in response to the ice storm.
By January 20, we had announced $40 million in addition to employment insurance and an extra $5 million. The other $5 million was used to set up regular teams across the area affected in Quebec, while $5 million was used to buy equipment so others could do their job properly. And we have heard nothing but favourable comments from the people of Saint-Hyacinthe.
Ensuring Access: Assistance For Post-Secondary Students May 5th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 108, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, two copies of the government's response to recommendations made in the first report of the Standing Committee on Human Resources Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities, entitled Ensuring Access: Assistance for Post-Secondary Students .
The Atlantic Groundfish Strategy May 4th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I think it is very unfair to talk about the program as being starved of cash. The program, consisting of $1.9 billion, was established to assist fishermen in very difficult circumstances during the crisis of 1993. I do not think that $1.9 billion was starving the people of cash.
Right now we are being very responsible. We are looking very carefully into the needs of the communities and the fishermen. We are consulting with the provinces involved to ensure that we meet the challenges of the post-TAGS environment as well as we can.
Atlantic Groundfish Strategy May 4th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, as you know, the Atlantic groundfish strategy will come to an end this August.
A number of my colleagues and I are working very hard at the moment consulting communities and individuals and collaborating with the provinces to be sure that we will deal with the post TAGS situation in the most appropriate way possible in order to help communities and individuals, since the fish will not be returning to the waters of the Atlantic as we had hoped.