Allan Rock

[Hepatitis C, June 8th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, whoever led the member to the website should take him through it with greater care.

Of course we accept the conclusions, all of the conclusions. He went through all the facts and he put forward conclusions which are clearly correct.

When it came to recommendations, it was up to governments to decide where to go from the Krever report.

As the member knows, the governments reached a consensus among all provinces to compensate 22,000. As to the rest, let us wait for the process involving the officials to conclude and then we will go from there.

[Hepatitis C, June 8th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, it is true that the Krever report recommended that the provinces and territories pay compensation.

This government felt that it should take a leadership role, as always, and pull the provinces together to produce a consensus to compensate 22,000 people. That is what we did.

As for the rest, the member will remember that there is a working group in place, a process to examine options, and perhaps he should let that process conclude so that we understand where we go from there.

[Health, June 8th, 1998]

We did our part. We fulfilled our responsibilities, as always, with regard to transfers.

[Health, June 8th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the fact is we increased the transfers, but the Government of Quebec must face the consequences of its own health policies. It is the policies of the Bouchard government that have had this effect on Quebec hospitals.

[Health, June 8th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, first, the federal government is responsible for interpreting and strengthening the Canada Health Act. That is the first thing. We intend to honour federal jurisdiction and federal responsibility.

Second, the national forum on health, a body independent of the government, suggested the government increase transfers, and we did.

[Health Care System, June 8th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is apparently unaware of the fact that the federal government transfers almost $28 billion annually to the provinces for such things as health care.

This is a responsibility that is shared by the two levels of government, both federal and provincial. As I said, we intend to fulfil our responsibilities as the federal government, and we have already taken action to ensure the future of our health care system.

[Health Care System, June 8th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, as I said, we have already increased transfers.

However, let us not forget that health is a shared jurisdiction between the federal government and the provinces. The provinces must do their part. Minister Rochon and the Bouchard government acted in such a way as to produce unfortunate results in Quebec. It is the province's responsibility.

We intend to assume our responsibilities as regards transfers, and we have already increased these transfers.

[Health Care System, June 8th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, we recently increased transfers to the provinces. We increased them to $12.5 billion annually, as recommended by the national forum on health, two years ago.

In so doing, we acted responsibly to ensure the future of our public health care system.

[Tobacco, June 4th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the member should know that yesterday we tabled legislation which will introduce a total ban on tobacco sponsorship over the next five years.

After a transition period, to give an opportunity for those events to get other sponsorships, we are going to have a ban in this country against tobacco sponsorships well ahead of the Europeans, well ahead of the Americans. Once again we are going to lead the world in our anti-tobacco efforts.

[Hepatitis C, June 4th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, we have said the same thing wherever we have gone, that we want officials to look at all the options so that governments will be in a position to make a decision.

Listening to the member for Macleod taking bits of documents out of context, I think it is important for him to remember the welfare of the people we are trying to help in this case. I think it is important for him to remember he is a medical doctor as well as a spin doctor.