House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2000, with 56% of the vote.
Hepatitis C April 29th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, every health department in the country, every minister of every government in Canada worked together on this issue. We examined the history. We had estimates. Some provinces had looked at trace back programs. We operated on good solid information in coming to the position we developed.
Hepatitis C April 29th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I will go half way. I am prepared to put up if he will do the other half.
Hepatitis C April 29th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, this month the Reform Party is cloaking itself in the cloth of compassion but it has a little problem. The problem is credibility. Canadians remember that it is the party that would gut medicare. Canadians know that they are the members who would eliminate the Canada pension plan. Canadians are not prepared to believe that the Reform Party is truly on the side of the victims. They know if the Reform Party were in power, the victims would get nothing.
Hepatitis C April 29th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, we have come to an agreement with the Quebec health minister in this matter.
I too have a question. I noticed that today the opposition in Quebec moved a motion similar to the one we dealt with yesterday in this House. Will Lucien Bouchard and Jean Rochon allow a free vote on this motion?
Hepatitis C April 29th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, every government in the country, not just the federal government, looked at the history of this matter. They decided there was one period during which the harm could have been prevented.
We have offered compensation to people infected during that period. That is the right approach. It was the approach that was affirmed yesterday in the vote in the House of Commons.
Hepatitis C April 29th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I note in passing that in the legislature of Saskatchewan the members of the NDP Government of Saskatchewan voted down a motion to extend compensation to all victims. The NDP government refused to permit a free vote in that exercise.
The NDP Government of Saskatchewan and that legislature have reaffirmed the agreement reached by all ministers of health to provide cash payments to those who were infected as a result of the fault of those responsible for the system.
Hepatitis C April 28th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I want to answer the question because for four weeks of House sittings I have stood in my place and I have responded to questions from every corner of this House on a matter of great difficulty.
I have answered those questions to the best of my ability and I avoided being partisan. I avoided being cheap. I avoided emotion.
What we just saw after four weeks of questions and debate debased the House of Commons, debased this process and brought the member into disgrace. He should be ashamed of himself.
Hepatitis C April 28th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, it is essential that when tragedies such as Robert's happen we as a country provide the finest possible medical care and a health care system that can respond to his needs. That is why cash compensation paid by governments for those harmed without fault should be avoided.
The hon. member for Macleod agreed with that when he said last Thursday “I accept that governments should not pay cash compensation to people who are injured when there is no fault”. I urge the member to consider the position of his colleague.
Hepatitis C April 28th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, when Sherry and Don were injected with contaminated blood, there was no possible way, no way at all, that science could have discovered what contaminants were in that blood.
The hon. member has suggested and her colleagues are insisting that governments across the country make cash payments to those who suffer harm or become ill regardless of fault because of risks inherent in the medical system. That is not the responsible or appropriate way to proceed.
The Prichard committee in 1990 said do not do it. Krever said no fault. The Prichard committee said no fault, you cannot compensate unavoidable harm. The deans of the medical faculties agree.
Hepatitis C April 28th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, we assumed our responsibility together with the other governments in Canada, including the Conservative ones. We accepted responsibility for the period during which officials could have done something to prevent infection.
It is the policy of the Canadian government, and it is the right policy.