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Health Canada October 29th, 1998
All the noise coming from the various parts of the House tends to obscure a simple fact. All the noise about inappropriate influences and pressures obscures the fact that BST has been under study for nine years at Health Canada.
It has not been approved. BST will not be approved for use in this country unless and until we are satisfied that it is safe and appropriate for use in Canada.
Health Canada October 29th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I am not sure what that means but I can tell—
Health Canada October 29th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, perhaps the member did not hear my earlier response when I said that it is true a complaint has been made. I think in fact it was a Tory staffer in the Senate who made the complaint to which the member has referred.
The information commissioner is looking into it. The deputy minister has instructed the department to co-operate fully. Therefore, matters will be clarified in due course.
I also stress that this is a very serious allegation. If indeed it is substantiated, then I assure the House that appropriate steps will be taken.
Datura Stramonium October 29th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I first want to thank the hon. member and her colleagues for raising this issue yesterday. I raised the issue with my department and I can tell you that we are considering measures to prevent this problem on our city streets. I hope to soon be able to provide a more detailed reply.
Health Canada October 29th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I know the hon. member would not want to mislead the public into thinking that BST has been approved in Canada. It has not been approved in Canada. It may have been approved in the United States, but in this country we take our time to examine an application for approval. BST will not be approved in this country unless and until it is proven to be safe. We have been looking at it for nine years. We are looking at it very carefully. We will not approve BST in this country unless we are satisfied it is safe for use.
Health Canada October 29th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I am aware that that complaint has been made. I understand that the information commissioner is looking into the matter. I am told the deputy minister has instructed the staff of the department to co-operate in every way. I am sure that the information commissioner will get to the bottom of it.
I might add that these are serious allegations. If they are proven to be true, then there will be steps taken that are appropriate.
Health October 28th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, as I told the member last week, or perhaps the week before, we have received the Bayer report. We are looking at it.
We have in place not only the scientists at Health Canada but also the Blood Safety Council which is there to advise us as an independent body. We will take advice and we will do the right thing.
Health October 27th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I will tell the member what we did. When the Senate committee on agriculture wanted scientists from Health Canada to testify and when the scientists said they were reluctant to go, I ensured that they were told the minister's office wanted them to attend, that it was their duty to attend, and that they should be there to answer questions. They did exactly that.
What did they say? They made it clear that Health Canada has not approved BST. There have been suggestions that we have been pressured to approve this drug. It has been under consideration by Health Canada for nine years. If that is what pressure is, it is not working very well.
Health October 27th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, the member talks about spinning. It sounds to me that the only spin doctor that has been advising the NDP is Dr. Kevorkian.
Let us bear in mind what the issue is here. The issue here is whether those scientists appeared before a committee to testify. They did. They answered all the questions fully and I urged them to do so.
Bear in mind also that what we are talking about here is rBST. That substance has not been approved and will not be approved by Health Canada until we are satisfied that it is safe.
Health October 27th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I hope the hon. member's devotion to the truth will extend to her description of the history of these events.
What happened last week was that scientists from my department appeared before the Senate committee at my urging. I encouraged them to attend and to testify before the parliamentary committee.
The document she refers to which was disclosed yesterday from a bureaucrat does not represent the policy of the department. The policy of the department is set by the minister and the minister asked those scientists to appear. They did and they testified in full and answered all the questions.