Allan Rock

[Hepatitis C, April 20th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I have said to the hon. member in response to his question that Health Canada sent representatives to Ireland to meet with officials to examine the facts and to look into exactly how the Irish system is organized and how compensation was paid.

What we learned was that almost all of the victims in Ireland can be traced to 1977 when, because the government did not screen properly, a donor infected the blood supply. The government itself distributed the product that caused most of these infections. Because of that fault the Irish government paid compensation.

We are applying the same principle in Canada. When governments could have acted—

[Hepatitis C, April 20th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, first of all, I have met often in the past with victims and their representatives.

Second, Health Canada some months ago sent its own representative to Ireland to look at the facts of that system. The facts are that about 1,800 victims so far have been compensated. We are covering 22,000 victims.

In Ireland the infection stemmed, for the most part, from a 1977 tainted blood supply brought about by the failure of the government to screen donors properly. The government itself distributed the tainted product which infected 1,500 expectant mothers.

We in this country have taken the same approach—

[Hepatitis C, April 20th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member speaks of leadership. Leadership is also shown by governments across the country by making the tough decisions on difficult issues that affect the continued sustainability of the public health care system.

What would the hon. member do about those injured by breast implants? What would he do with those mothers who must care for children who have brain damage as a result of high risk births? What would he say to the study released last week by Canadian researchers showing that thousands of deaths every year can be traced to taking prescription medicines?

Would the hon. member propose that cash payments be made to all of those victims?

[Hepatitis C, April 20th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, first of all, the hon. member should know that I have met more than once with victims and representatives of victims. I have dealt directly with them. Indeed, I telephone them personally in advance of government decisions so they will know the decisions the governments have made.

The Government of Canada and the governments of all the provinces have not refused to compensate victims. The governments of this country have accepted responsibility for that period of time during which something could have been done, should have been done and was not done.

The facts speak for themselves. All governments of Canada have taken a responsible position on this most difficult issue.

[Hepatitis C, April 20th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I have already made clear to the hon. member and to the House how difficult this decision was.

I can assure the hon. member that there is no less sympathy on this side of the House than on that side of the House for those who are suffering from the illness, no matter when they became ill.

The health ministers of Canada, when they dealt with this difficult decision, did so in light of the implications of the decision on the health system in general. Indeed, we confronted the question as to whether governments should pay cash compensation to all of those harmed by the health system. We concluded that it would not be possible to sustain Canada's public system of health care if we took the—

[Health, April 3rd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, for Health Canada, public safety is the bottom line. We have excellent professionals in the department who conduct the appropriate tests and investigations before any drugs are approved.

To remove any doubt and to ensure public confidence in the excellence of their work, I have appointed a science advisory board chaired by Dr. Roberta Bondar, herself a distinguished scientist. They will look at the science capacity in the department. They will report to me and I shall make public their report on the question of whether we have the people we need in the Department of Health to fulfil our important public responsibilities.

[Hepatitis C, April 3rd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, it is possible to find reports, whether here or in other countries, of isolated suggestions of tests before 1986. There is no question about that. It is referred to in the Krever chronology.

The point is it was in early 1986 that experts agreed it was incumbent upon those responsible in this country to respond and to put the systems in place. They chose not to do so and the consequences were tragic. It is for that reason we have chosen that year.

There is broad support in many circles for that approach. I refer to the Saskatoon Star Phoenix editorial of this week which said that the health ministers, who had to evaluate the Krever “recommendations in the context of their ramifications on the entire health system, made a difficult but justifiable decision”.

[Hepatitis C, April 3rd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the people who will be speaking on the phone on Monday are the same people with whom I sat at the table representing governments across Canada who agreed that the approach we are taking to compensation is the right one. Every provincial government stands with us. We stand with them. This is the right thing to do.

[Hepatitis C, April 3rd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, as I have explained, all the governments of Canada brought those same principles of compassion and fairness to the table. We looked at the history of the matter. We proceeded on what we believe is sound public policy.

For example, in the Vancouver Sun this week some of these points are made very elaborately confirming the wisdom of the decision of all the health ministers and all the governments of the country supporting it and saying the position is fully justified. Across the country evidence can be seen of people who have thought about this issue agreeing with the position taken by all the governments of the country.

[Hepatitis C, April 3rd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, all the health ministers in the country took those same principles to heart as they worked for months toward this compensation package.

As a result of our work and the agreement among all governments over 22,000 Canadians have been spared litigation. Over 22,000 Canadians are going to be the beneficiaries of a compensation offer that totals $1.1 billion.

For them and their families that is very significant evidence of compassion on the part of governments.