Lost his last election, in 2006, with 38% of the vote.
Aboriginal Affairs February 6th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, this is a very serious matter. We have been looking into it very closely. We have taken clear steps on the inappropriate actions by some officials.
The Auditor General and Health Canada are in regular contact, and are working together on this. We should not try to disavow the work of the Auditor General who is kept abreast of this quite regularly.
We have done a forensic audit. We have contacted the RCMP and taken actions, and I have tabled in the House a summary of those actions.
Aboriginal Affairs February 6th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, I cannot accept the premise of the question from the member. That party will never change. It tries to change; it tries to give itself a better face.
This is just going back into the gutter to challenge or to question the integrity of the health minister at the time, who did a great job at bringing in the RCMP and firing the officials who had been involved. There was never any question about political implications.
Aboriginal Affairs February 6th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, Health Canada launched a forensic audit. We contacted the RCMP. We launched a civil litigation to recover the public funds and reviewed the previous actions taken on the file. We continue to keep the office of the Auditor General informed through our briefings on the forensic audit on corrective measures being taken.
We believe in transparency. This week I tabled in the House a summary of accountable measures that have been put in place at Health Canada to strengthen the management of public funds so that this never happens again.
Health February 6th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, it is clear that Health Canada makes a great deal of effort to educate the public better in terms of eating better food. We have a great job to do, and the Minister of State for Public Health spends a lot of her time and energy doing a good job at making sure that Canadians remain healthy. That is the best contribution we can make through the health care system, if Canadians eat better. This is what we are doing with this mandatory labelling, so that Canadians make the best possible choices in terms of the trans fats. We will help Canadians that way.
Health February 6th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, this is indeed a very important file on which we are working hard. It is a big problem, the trans fats issue. The new nutrition labelling regulations will indeed require the declaration of trans fats contents on the labels of most prepackaged food by December 12, 2005. We expect that it will act as a strong incentive to the food industry to reduce or eliminate trans fats from food. The industry is already moving in that direction. We expect the mandatory labelling of trans fats will assist consumers in making healthy food choices.
Official Languages February 6th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, I am truly very committed to the linguistic duality that lies at the heart of the Canadian identity.
It is imperative that the institutions of our government and our Parliament respect the reality of this linguistic duality, especially when it comes to the minority language.
Our government and our country are deeply committed to minorities. It is much easier for majorities to protect themselves. The minority will always have this government in its corner.
Health Canada February 4th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, a document entitled “Accountability at Health Canada”.
Health February 4th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman for his very pertinent question. Our government is collaborating with the provinces and with the territories at this moment to develop guidelines for drinking water quality. Our government understands that water quality needs an integrated, collaborative approach within the provinces, the territories and the Government of Canada. These guidelines are being developed now.
Aboriginal Affairs February 3rd, 2004
Mr. Speaker, let us not confuse issues here.
Health Canada funds a variety of programs through the national native alcohol and drug abuse program. Its program in hockey and sport was in line with its prevention and promotion strategies.
Aboriginal Affairs February 3rd, 2004
Mr. Speaker, as we know, Health Canada has already launched a forensic audit. We have contacted the RCMP over this very matter. We have launched a civil litigation to recover the public funds. We have fired the officers who were responsible for this misconduct.
In the interest of openness and transparency, Health Canada has posted an executive summary of the forensic audit on its website. That is for absolute public accountability and we will continue to behave that way.