House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2000, with 70% of the vote.
Health May 2nd, 2001
Mr. Speaker, when I practised medicine I trusted Health Canada to provide me with the best warnings, as did my colleagues and my patients. Does the minister know that those warnings are inferior to those in the U.S.? The sad thing is that Vanessa Young's family trusted those warnings as well.
Where is the ministerial responsibility on this failure?
Health May 2nd, 2001
Mr. Speaker, specifically, if 15 year old Vanessa Young had lived in the U.S. she and her doctor would have known two things: first, she should not have taken the drug at all because she was under 16; and second, that this drug could cause arrhythmia and possibly death.
Just exactly why is it that Canada's health warnings are inferior to those in the U.S.?
Privacy April 30th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is going to the supreme court to prevent people from having access to his schedule.
Why does the Prime Minister feel that it is illegal to know his schedule? What is he trying to hide now?
Privacy April 30th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, on the one hand the government is opening the public's mail and on the other hand it is not allowing us to look at its mail.
The information commissioner said that complaints relating to this have doubled in the last year. The public is unable to look at the government documents. Since the government is looking at private documents why will it not release government documents? Why so much secrecy?
The Economy April 27th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, it is all well and good for the minister to talk about how well Canada is doing in relation to other countries. However, I just mentioned that almost 5,500 jobs are being lost. These are high paying jobs that taxpayers had before the government messed up our economy.
The IMF's own chief economist warned yesterday that the U.S. and Canada must act more responsibly with their economies or risk a recession. Those are very plain words. Will the government take the first step toward responsibility and bring in a new budget?
The Economy April 27th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, we just learned that the help wanted index in the United States has reached a record low.
The labour market south of the border is experiencing very serious problems. Economists tell us that the same situation could occur in Canada.
Will the minister leave the rhetoric aside and tell Canadians what the government will do to improve the situation?
The Economy April 27th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, the job news in Canada this week is not that great. JDS Uniphase just cut 2,500 jobs. Bell Canada proposes to lay off 1,800 workers. Cisco Systems will chop 250 jobs. This morning we learned that TD Waterhouse will cut 800 employees. These are thousands of hardworking, taxpaying citizens who will be looking for work.
How can the minister say with that record that all the fundamentals are in order?
Business Development Bank Of Canada April 26th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, Mr. Carle was completely unjustified in his actions. The search warrant was quashed because the BDC “failed to present sufficient evidence or grounds” to warrant those raids.
The connection could not be more clear. Here we have an employee of the Prime Minister working on his campaign and then going back to the BDC. Why does Jean Carle have to look after the interests of the Prime Minister even when he is at the BDC?
Business Development Bank Of Canada April 26th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, we have obtained a letter through access to information written by Jean Carle of the Business Development Bank. It is a request for a leave of absence from the bank for the period of the federal election.
Mr. Carle worked full time on the Prime Minister's election campaign. He then went back to his office at the BDC and got his legal team to conduct an unwarranted search and seizure of documents relating to the Prime Minister. Why is Jean Carle protecting the Prime Minister?
Palliative Care April 25th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, recently the Dutch parliament passed a law that formally allows a medical doctor to euthanize a patient. This action will set back palliative care, which seeks to make the end of life as comfortable as possible and breaks the traditional role of doctor as helper.
My first duty as a surgeon was to do no harm. The Hippocratic oath forbids any physician from practising euthanasia. Having practised medicine for 25 years, I personally dealt with terminal patients over and over again. By creative use of drugs, companionship and kindness, we always found a way to comfort those patients.
Canada needs to concentrate its resources on palliation for terminal patients. Our patients deserve the best care, not the most expedient.