House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2000, with 56% of the vote.
Health Care June 10th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, health is one of this government's top priorities. That is why we have already increased health transfers to all the provinces to $12.5 billion annually.
We have already expressed this government's commitment to renewing and strengthening Canada's health care system. That is a priority for this government.
Hepatitis C June 10th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I refer the member to Volume 2 of the Krever report, page 698 and following, in which Mr. Justice Krever goes through this whole history, examines all of the facts and puts them into the context of the scientific knowledge of the day.
What I want to stress is that this government has accepted the recommendations of Krever in relation to regulation. We have established the Blood Safety Council. We are going to have the highest standards of regulation in the world because for this government safety is the bottom line.
Hepatitis C June 10th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, as I have said, all of these facts and all of these documents were before Krever. They were all gone into in detail and referred to in Volume 2 of his report.
The answer to the question is that the practice at Health Canada at the time, 1990-1991, reflected the scientific knowledge and understanding of that time.
In 1991 a directive was issued in keeping with the usual practice to get manufacturers to test plasma. That is what we did. We did it ahead of the Americans and in advance of the publication of many American reports.
Hepatitis C June 10th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, the whole issue of compensation is before a working group with the provinces.
But I want the member to acknowledge that it is very important to get the facts right. The fact was improperly reported this morning. Health Canada issued a directive in 1991. We did not wait for the Americans. We were ahead of the FDA.
By the way, we have accepted the Krever recommendations on regulation. We are going to spend more money to put better regulation in place and make sure that through the Blood Safety Council we have the highest standards of safety for all Canadians because that for us is the bottom line.
Hepatitis C June 10th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, all the documents referred to in that report were before Mr. Justice Krever. He looked into all of the facts and, in fact, they were referred to in his report.
The report this morning on the radio was factually wrong in important respects. I encourage the member to look at the facts.
It was alleged that there was no action taken until 1993. In fact, Health Canada issued a directive in 1991. It said this morning that Health Canada awaited a U.S. study. That is false. Health Canada instructed manufacturers to start screening plasma a full two years before the publication of the U.S. report. The Health Canada directive was issued five months before the FDA acted.
The facts were—
Health June 9th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I emphasize again the report dealt not with the scientific capacity of the branch but rather the workplace environment. Recommendations have been made. The new director has been given a mandate to implement them. The employees have been spoken to about this change.
This is a report that was commissioned by Health Canada because we want to resolve this issue and we will.
Health June 9th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, first I want to stress that this report deals with the workplace atmosphere in the veterinary drugs department and has nothing to do with the safety or quality of its work.
It was Health Canada that engaged this consultant to examine the workplace environment.
Recommendations have now been received, employees' concerns have been taken into account, and the recommendations have been presented to and discussed with the employees. I am assured by officials that the positive recommendations will be implemented shortly.
Hepatitis C June 9th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, Reformers pick and choose those to whom they calculate they should send their political compassion. They may not have been very successful in uniting the right over there but this party sure has united the wrong.
Hepatitis C June 9th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, we can see for ourselves what goes on across the way—
Hepatitis C June 9th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, the point that comes of all this is that the Reform Party likes to pick and choose those to whom it is prepared to show its political compassion. It is all in favour of certain victims that it puts in the gallery for show. But when it comes to the HIV strategy to help those with AIDS, even those who got HIV through the blood system, the Reformers will not support it. It is called hypocrisy.