House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2000, with 70% of the vote.
Hepatitis C April 28th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, we have had quite a bit of correspondence on the hepatitis C issue. I have just such a letter here, a letter that calls for compensation for all victims of hepatitis C.
It is fascinating where this letter came from. It came from the Liberal official opposition of British Columbia. Why should the Liberals in B.C. know what is right and correct when the Liberals in Ottawa are obviously on the wrong track?
Petitions April 28th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I have a very timely petition to present. It is from individuals who feel that the hepatitis C compensation package is inappropriate.
They are asking for the government to offer a compensation package to all victims of hepatitis C just as the premier expert in the blood system in Canada suggested, that being Horace Krever.
These individuals are from the Ottawa area. The flow of petitions is starting today.
The Late Carlo Rossi April 27th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, the official opposition is honoured to pay tribute to Carlo Rossi, who passed away April 11, 1998. Carlo came to the House of Commons in 1979. He sat as the member for Bourassa for nearly 10 years. In his previous life he was a dedicated police officer with a career distinguished by fairness.
His word was his bond in police work. I was fascinated to hear the story of how he would negotiate with hostages. If he had given his word to a criminal who had taken a hostage, that word was good. If he made a promise he stood by that promise. He brought the same basic rules of fairness to his work here in parliament. Members have told me that when he made a deal it was in fact a deal.
As a decorated police officer he brought a fresh perspective to parliament, a perspective that showed how closely he had dealt with both criminals and victims alike.
Mr. Rossi was an ideal politician, with his experience as a police officer and his life experience, without the restrictions imposed by political parties. On behalf of my party I would like to extend our condolences to his family. This is a great loss to Montreal and to Canada.
Hepatitis C April 27th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, let me go to the source himself, Judge Krever.
During the 1980s the federal bureau of biologics did not decide independently whether to use its authority. Instead it depended upon the Red Cross. In effect it made itself dependent on an organization whose activities it was supposed to regulate. That is why Judge Krever said to compensate all victims of hepatitis C without regard.
Why does not the health minister do exactly what Judge Krever said?
Hepatitis C April 27th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, the health minister has chosen to quote my words in the House last week. He says that when there is no fault there should be no compensation.
What did Justice Krever say about the fault of the federal regulator as it related to hepatitis C? He said that the federal government was negligent. That is fault from where I stand. That is why we want compensation for all victims of hepatitis C.
Hepatitis C April 27th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, maybe I should remind the Deputy Prime Minister that he is talking about things like a CPP disability plan for these victims, even though he knows that people have to line up for those plans. He is talking about medical plans for these people, even though health care provides those things.
He is offering not a single thin dime more to these victims.
Is it not true that he is offering these things just to keep the dissident backbench Liberals in check?
I will ask him the question again. Is he going to give equal treatment to all victims of hepatitis C in Canada: yes or no?
Hepatitis C April 27th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, it has been reported today that the government is ready to reopen its bad deal on hepatitis C. At least that is what the Liberal backbenchers are being told.
I ask the Deputy Prime Minister, is the government in fact ready to reopen the deal so that all victims of hepatitis C will be treated equally?
Hepatitis C April 24th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, if the Prime Minister were not strong arming his backbenchers he knows he would lose this vote. The victims know it. Backbenchers know it. The Prime Minister knows it. I am sure the Deputy Prime Minister knows it.
Is the real reason why the Prime Minister is treating this as an issue that is so important not that if he has a free vote he will lose that vote?
Hepatitis C April 24th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, this vote is not a vote for anything but for the victims. It is simply wrong to say that there are partisan issues brought to bear here.
All opposition parties have stated very clearly that this will not be an election issue. The only person who is trying to raise the stakes is the Prime Minister.
Why is the government so willing to put everything on the line to defend a bad deal?
Supply April 23rd, 1998
Mr. Speaker, it is interesting to hear the legal arguments from the health minister. I note publicly that the minister referred only to legal precedents on this issue.
I accept his point that government should not pay cash compensation to people who are injured when there is no fault. No fault, no compensation I accept. But in this instance can anybody convince me that there was no fault, can anybody convince Judge Krever, our premier expert on the blood system, that there was no fault? He said it plainer than I could ever say it. The federal government regulator failed the public.
All I will say is that Krever is our expert. The health minister has turned down his expertise. He says that the members in this House will not vote for this motion because it is the right thing to do. I say the Liberal members will not vote for this motion because they are being coerced and forced and pushed into the hole. Argue with that if they will but every single person in Canada knows that is true. If it is not true, take off the whip.