Allan Rock

[Health, October 22nd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, we have clarified and specified that health is a key issue, one of our top priorities.

We already increased transfers by $1.5 billion last year—

[Health, October 22nd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the member has his facts wrong. He should be embarrassed. The member should double check his facts.

In the meantime, Health Canada has not approved rBST. Health Canada will not approve rBST until we are satisfied it is safe notwithstanding the fact it has been approved in the United States and appropriate for sale in Canada.

[Health, October 22nd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday we found the member had not read his clippings from the summer. Now we can see the member has not watched television since 1994.

All these allegations in relation to the alleged break in and so on were dealt with when they were reported to officials in 1990 when they allegedly occurred. They were looked into. There were inquiries. The matter became public and aired on a television program.

Let me come back to the real point. The real point is that Health Canada is watching for the safety of Canadians. We have not approved rBST. We will not approve it—

[Health, October 22nd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, were the member not speaking in the political theatre she would concede that many of these allegations have already been investigated. Some of them are now before the Public Service Staff Relations Board which has had a full hearing and has had this testimony before it. Some of the allegations she mentions go back to 1990. They were the subject of television programs in 1994.

These have been looked at over the years. Now they are before the Public Service Staff Relations Board. Let us let that board consider the evidence and come to its own conclusions.

As far as Health Canada is concerned we will continue to act in the public interest.

[Health, October 22nd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, as I understand it, the hearings this morning had to do with the process by which the application for approval of something called rBST was carried forward.

So not to lose sight of the facts, I want to stress that rBST has not been approved in Canada. It has not been approved by Health Canada. Even though it has been approved in the States we have said no. We have not given approval. We will not give approval until the safety of that substance is determined to our satisfaction. This has been under review for nine years.

[Health, October 21st, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, we have made clear that health care is one of the central priorities of the government.

The Prime Minister has said plainly that health care will be the focus of our next major reinvestment, and that is a commitment on which we intend to follow through.

[Hepatitis C, October 21st, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, while the member was looking through access to information, there were public documents published this summer for all the epidemiologists representing all the interested parties. It went through a public process to estimate all those infected through the blood system.

All those numbers are published through newspapers. Perhaps the member ought to look up the local newspaper instead of worrying about the access to information.

[Health, October 20th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the member is quite wrong in saying that nothing has been done. I do acknowledge his interest in the subject and thank him for having met with me about it and providing me with information, which I considered carefully.

I want the hon. member to know, indeed the House to know, that the department of health is working with provincial ministries of health, medical associations and other interested persons to find a way forward on encouraging availability of organs for donation. We are doing that through consultation and by encouraging people to fill out organ donation forms in the provinces. We are also looking at other strategies that we believe will be effective.

The member should know that we are working with all those involved to find a better way.

[Aboriginal Affairs, October 19th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the question is a very timely one. In 1995 the government began the aboriginal head start program. Since then it has helped tens of thousands of children in aboriginal communities, but it has only been available in urban centres.

I am pleased that after question period today in Centre Block I will be able to announce that we will commence immediately to receive applications to fund aboriginal head start programs on reserves to help thousands more aboriginal children to get a good healthy start in life.

[Extradition Act, October 8th, 1998]

moved that Bill C-40, an act respecting extradition, to amend the Canada Evidence Act, the Criminal Code, the Immigration Act and the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Act and to amend and repeal other acts in consequence, be read the second time and referred to a committee.