Allan Rock

[Health Care, October 7th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, for 10 years Health Canada has been working to address this problem. There are two things in particular that have been done.

First, we have kept good statistical analysis of how the drugs are being used so that we can track abuse. Second, over the last number of years, we put in place a system that will be fully operational by the end of December 1997 which will allow pharmacists at the point of sale to determine whether the person presenting the prescription is doing it fraudulently or otherwise.

That will make an enormous difference in resolving this problem.

[Health Care, October 7th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, that is certainly our objective.

As I mentioned earlier to the House in response to another question, with each agreement we negotiate the transfer for the purpose of self-government, a program for health of aboriginal communities. We try to ensure a level of accountability that will make sure that money is properly spent and spent for community purposes.

May I also say that we have achieved some real progress in areas like life expectancy and infant mortality over the last 15 or 20 years, and we intend to keep investing in that kind of effort.

[Aboriginal Affairs, October 7th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, that is simply not so. Over the last 10 years we have worked assiduously to put systems in place to deal with the kind of problem the member has referred to. I will give two examples.

First, it was the system of gathering information put together by Health Canada that allowed the auditor general to come up with the analysis in his report.

Second, by the end of the current calendar year, after years of work, we are going to have a point of sale system in place that will let pharmacists know that there is a problem with the prescription. That is going to help with this problem.

[Aboriginal Affairs, October 7th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, whenever responsibility for an aboriginal community is turned over to a First Nation, it is done on the basis that that community will not only have responsibility for administering the program, but for accounting for it as well. The agreements that are entered into with First Nations ensure a level of accountability.

There is no doubt we have things to learn from the auditor general's report. We will be looking at it very carefully. I assure the hon. member that chief among our priorities will be the accountability of First Nations for the money that is spent.

[Health, October 6th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, the member and the House knows my commitment. My commitment is to the safety of Canadians.

I put a moratorium on further cuts in the health protection branch. I am about to appoint an arm's length board of scientists who will give independent advice on these issues. We are going to consult with Canadians and with those who know on the future of the health protection branch. We are going to make sure that the bottom line for this government is also the bottom line for Canadians. Safety comes first.

[Health, October 6th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, millions of Canadians now make use of natural products and herbal homoeopathic remedies for their personal health needs. The government believes that Canadians should have the broadest range of choice available to them when they decide what is good for them individually.

As a result we have made a fundamental change in the way herbal remedies and natural products will be regulated. We have decided to exempt those products from the regulation that will come into effect next January 1. Instead we will refer the whole matter of regulating these products to the health committee. The key thing is—

[Health, October 3rd, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I have personal knowledge of the awful tragedy to which the hon. member refers. I have walked with the police of Vancouver through the back alleys of downtown Vancouver. I have visited the areas to which she has referred and I have seen people who have died as a result of abusing drugs and using dirty needles.

There is no one simple answer to this issue. The municipal government—and I have spoken with the mayor of Vancouver about it—the provincial government and the federal government must, as we are, work in co-ordination to provide social services, proper policing and treatment to those very much in need.

The hon. member has my assurance that we will continue in that effort.

[Health, October 3rd, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, the challenge facing any government is to strike the right balance between regulation to protect consumers from fraud or abuse and, on the other hand, allowing Canadians freedom of choice for health related products. The government is determined to find that right balance.

Tomorrow in Toronto, I am going to be making an announcement that will make clear the intention of the government with respect to the approach toward herbal remedies and natural products in general. I commend it to the hon. member in response to his question.

[Health, October 3rd, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, the member can be assured that when the government puts together its policy toward the creation of a pharmacare plan we will do what is in the best interests of Canadians.

We will look at ideas that come from all quarters. We will look at models in other countries. We will look at what Canada can afford and what will deliver the services best to Canadians. That is exactly what the government will do.

[Health, October 3rd, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, the member is profoundly misinformed. We are complying with the commitment we made during the election campaign.

I know the hon. member would want us, before embarking on a national pharmacare program, to look into its design, its funding and its delivery. That is exactly what we are doing.

In the months ahead I will be meeting in a national conference with my provincial counterparts, with interested and knowledgeable people, to talk about how Canadians can be best served by a pharmacare program that will work.