Grant Hill

[Hepatitis C, March 31st, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, on the very day we get that kind of an answer we have the health minister fighting vigorously in his cabinet for tobacco cash—$100 million for tobacco cash.

Here is what the hepatitis C victims say: “Why would that money go to tobacco instead of going to us?” That is my question to the health minister: Why would that money not go to the victims of hepatitis C? They do not want two tiers of victims.

[Hepatitis C, March 31st, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, some tens of thousands of Canadians have been infected by hepatitis C, infected by the very same virus, and they got it the very same way, from tainted blood. They only ask to be treated fairly. They only ask to be treated equally.

My question is to the Prime Minister. We can tell a lot about leadership when an individual has made an error. I ask the Prime Minister today to right the error of hepatitis C compensation to those innocent victims.

[Hepatitis C, March 30th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I am delighted that the health minister brings up Justice Krever's report. He said “Compensate everyone”. That was his recommendation.

There have been two other major public relations blunders in the last few months in Canada. Two governments suggested compensation packages which were wrong for the Dionne quintuplets and for those who were sterilized in Canada without their permission. As soon as they realized they were wrong, they reversed their stand.

There is a right way and a wrong way to treat the victims of hepatitis C. Why has this health minister chosen the wrong way?

[Hepatitis C, March 30th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the health minister says there was nothing that could have been done before 1986. That is categorically false. In 1981 one of the main directors of the Red Cross sent a memo around to the Red Cross saying that there was something specific that could be done and they did nothing.

There is no way to differentiate people who have hepatitis C. They are sick and many of them will die.

Why does the government not just admit that what it has done is wrong and compensate all the victims of hepatitis C? Why not?

[Hepatitis C, March 27th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the leaked strategy document says a huge amount to me. They know themselves that this compensation package is a failure. Why else would they try to exclude the victims from the microphone as the minister makes his announcement? Why else would they try to say to those victims “you cannot get anything if you were infected before 1985?”

Why did they choose a hard-hearted legal route rather than extending the warm hand of compassion to those unfortunate innocent victims?

[Hepatitis C, March 27th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I am certain Pam Rasmussen will know that the parliamentary secretary did not answer my question about why she is excluded. This is a human tragedy, a major human tragedy, and the government is viewing it only as a public relations damage control issue.

We received a document from them which says that they are suppose to talk in compassionate terms but deliver nothing. I want to know why the lawyers in the government won out over those who surely must know that these victims deserve a compassionate, fair settlement.

[Hepatitis C, March 27th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the government today chose to exclude half the victims of the hepatitis C tragedy from compensation. Twenty thousand victims minimum are being excluded from the compensation package.

I am going to give the government the opportunity to explain this to the Canadian public. Why does Pam Rasmussen of Nantom, Alberta, who got hepatitis C from contaminated blood in 1985 not get fair and just compensation?

[Health, March 26th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, just prior to 1986 Ron Smith of Calgary was involved in a major car accident. He had multiple transfusions. He is so ill today that he cannot even play with his four children. Ill not from his car accident but from contaminated blood and hepatitis C.

Why has the Prime Minister not forced the uncaring health minister to provide compensation for every single victim?

[Health, March 26th, 1998]

Neylan Dallie, of Pointe-Claire, Quebec, received a transfusion of contaminated blood in 1981 during childbirth. This made her so ill that she underwent a liver transplant in 1994. Since then, the public system has abandoned her.

Why is the government now abandoning her as well, without compensation?

[Health, March 26th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, on the issue of compensation for hepatitis C victims, I would like to quote what the Minister of Health said. “I do not think victims' claims should be bogged down for 10, 12 or 15 years before the courts.” That is exactly what the Liberal compensation plan is going to do.

I would like one of the Liberal members who is proud of this record to stand and tell me why Liberals are going to let half the victims go through the courts for fair justice.