Allan Rock

[Hepatitis C, May 6th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the member should know that when I speak with ministers of health from across the country, as I am doing, many of them take very different positions. Some are urging that we remain where things are. Others are changing their positions within the hour.

If we are to be constructive and in the interests of all people with hepatitis C, we should work toward a consensus. The federal government should work with provincial governments to do what will help in the care of hepatitis C sufferers. I ask the hon. member to allow us to work with provincial colleagues toward a consensus in the best interests of those who are ill.

[Hepatitis C, May 6th, 1998]

Then they changed their mind. Last Friday, they changed their position and now they have changed it again.

We have proposed a meeting of all ministers next week. And I suggest once again that the member await the meeting.

[Hepatitis C, May 6th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, last summer, the Quebec minister of health clearly did not want to compensate hepatitis C victims. That was his position.

[Hepatitis C, May 6th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the member refers to Mike Harris changing his mind Friday afternoon. He has changed his mind more often than that.

Last summer he said no compensation for any victim. Last March he joined with us in agreeing cash would be paid for 1986 to 1990 and health care for the others. Last Friday he reaffirmed that. Then he threw that position away for the reasons he gave on Monday. Mike Harris has changed his mind more than once.

[Hepatitis C, May 6th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the member refers to Mike Harris changing his mind—

[Hepatitis C, May 6th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I counsel the hon. member to do what we are doing, to wait for the meeting. We are waiting to see what the position of the provinces is. Apparently it is changing by the hour. Let us find out what the position of our partners is. The provinces and their governments are our partners as proprietors of the health care system in this country. Let us find out what their position is. As soon as we know, let us work toward a consensus because that is how we believe this country should be run.

[Hepatitis C, May 6th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is wrong in referring to our position. In fact all governments of Canada have a responsibility to all people who have hepatitis C and every other illness and that is to provide the best and the most intensive health care system in the world. We intend to fulfil that responsibility.

[Hepatitis C, May 5th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I intend to meet my counterparts to discover if the various governments can reach a consensus. We had one.

Yesterday, Ontario shifted. It changed position. It is now vital that the governments look for a new consensus, which is the aim of the upcoming meeting.

[Hepatitis C, May 5th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I guess the best way of responding to that kind of question is to remind the member and the opposition parties that had it not been for this government, under the leadership of the Prime Minister, there would not be a single victim with compensation of any kind.

[Hepatitis C, May 5th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, as the Prime Minister has already said, every year we transfer $12.5 billion to the provinces, Quebec included, and one of the things this is for is the health care system.