Lost his last election, in 2006, with 38% of the vote.
Health March 22nd, 2004
Mr. Speaker, $34.8 billion will be invested in the health budgets over the next five years. In the coming years, we have committed to an 8% annual increase.
With regard to health, everyone agrees that the long-term sustainability of the system depends, naturally, on stable funding.
We will work with our colleagues in the provinces on ways to find this funding and also ensure adequate reform. That is what Canadians expect, and we will work with Canadians, the provinces and all of our colleagues.
Health March 22nd, 2004
Mr. Speaker, it is obvious that this government is deeply committed to ensuring the long-term sustainability of our health care system. That is why the Prime Minister already called a preliminary meeting of the first ministers in January. He asked the provincial premiers, the finance ministers and the health ministers to sit down together and make recommendations for the next first ministers' conference to be held this summer.
As for some of the other aspects of the health issue, we must wait for the Minister of Finance to table his budget tomorrow. Health, the number one priority, will no doubt garner considerable interest—
Health March 22nd, 2004
Mr. Speaker, I do not see why the member gets all excited about attacking the Conservative Party, the Tories. As of this morning their website was still the Canadian Alliance.com. Therefore we can tell very well that it is just an Alliance takeover of the Conservative Party.
However the one thing I can say is that Canadians are proud of their health care system and they want us to stand by the health care system. We will work in collaboration with the provinces to make sure Canadians receive the best possible delivery of health care.
Health March 22nd, 2004
Mr. Speaker, the government is absolutely committed to the Canada Health Act. We realize that the five principles of the Canada Health Act are very popular with Canadians from coast to coast and we stand by the five principles of the Canada Health Act.
We take the sustainability of our health care system extremely serious which is why it was already the subject of the first ministers' meeting in January. The Prime Minister has committed to holding another first ministers' meeting on the subject this summer.
Equalization March 11th, 2004
What interests us on this side is realizing that the long term sustainability of health care depends on a commitment to both reform and funding.
Our government is determined to work with the provinces on the funding issue, naturally, which will help to achieve the necessary reforms.
However, I see that voting against equalization has pained them.
Equalization March 11th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, obviously, it is rather interesting to hear this from the Bloc Quebecois, when it has just voted against equalization, 45% of which goes to Quebec. This is hypocritical to say the least.
Equalization March 11th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, this Prime Minister has admitted that it was essential to hold regular federal-provincial meetings. He has taken a different approach. He has admitted that cooperating with the provinces was the way to go.
The finance ministers and health ministers are determined to meet, with recommendations from our government leaders in hand, and to report back over the summer to ensure the long term sustainability of our health care system.
Sponsorship Program March 11th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister did indeed have an envelope available to him to be used to support projects throughout Canada. These were projects he deemed appropriate to strengthen national unity.
The present Prime Minister has asked the Clerk of the Privy Council to carry out a detailed examination of that envelope. Incidentally, no new project has been initiated by this government from that envelope since the government was formed on December 12.
Health March 10th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, I very much appreciate the question from the hon. member. We have indeed met the HIV-AIDS groups and it is indeed a priority of our government. A lot of very good work has been done in the last few years through their work. I wish my colleague, the Minister of Finance, were here today to help me answer this question. We will have to wait for the budget. I can tell the House that it is certainly a worthwhile cause and these groups have made an extraordinary contribution to Canadian health and society in the last few years.
Foreign Affairs March 9th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, we were very proud as a country to be the first Parliament to follow up on the great WTO decision in August 2003. Canada was a leading country in this area. We were thanked by Secretary-General Kofi Annan this morning in this very House.
The WTO waiver does not waive all of our international obligations. We will respect our other international obligations. Where we can help, such as on AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, we will be there.