House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2000, with 56% of the vote.
Health April 4th, 2000
Mr. Speaker, I would remind the member that this is the first government since the enactment of the Canada Health Act to stop payment to a province. In fact it was Alberta, which conducted practices inconsistent with the act.
In relation to MRIs, I can tell the member that we are fully aware of concerns. We are investigating them. In fact I took the matter up with the Alberta health minister when I met him last Friday in Markham.
Health April 3rd, 2000
Mr. Speaker, I suggested the process that began last week in Markham because I think governments have to work together to plan for the future of medicare. Last week was only the beginning. It will continue. It may take some time.
We will combine what the Prime Minister said, a long term commitment to financing with a long term plan to renew medicare. That is where we are going.
On Bill 11, as I have already told this member and the House, we will respond at the appropriate time when we know what the bill is in its final form.
Health April 3rd, 2000
Mr. Speaker, this government knows that as the years go by more money will be required for health care. Indeed, in the last 14 months we have devoted an additional $14 billion to the transfers available for health in the hands of the provinces.
This government is also aware that it will take more than just money to fix the problem. The NDP is the agent of the status quo. It believes in pouring more money into the existing system. Let me quote Bob Rae, the former NDP premier of Ontario. Last week he said: “Allan Rock is absolutely right when he says that if we are going to put more money in, we also have to deal with the question of reform and not just throw money”.
Cloning Of Human Embryos April 3rd, 2000
Mr. Speaker, we have begun consultations with the provinces, groups and individuals involved. We will be in a position to act after these consultations have been completed.
Health April 3rd, 2000
Mr. Speaker, we are only trying to improve the quality of health care everywhere in Canada, including in Quebec.
Health April 3rd, 2000
Mr. Speaker, the ministers of health met in Markham, last week.
We discussed money, but we went beyond the money necessary to save and to strengthen our health care system.
Bernard Landry said a few weeks ago that “The problem in health is not a problem of money, but a problem of planning, of management”. We proposed that governments work together to ensure greater planning.
Health April 3rd, 2000
Mr. Speaker, there is a gulf between that party and this government. This government believes in the Canada Health Act and that party believes in American style private-for-profit medicine.
The hon. member for Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca said “A two-tiered health care system will strengthen the public system, not erode it. This can occur if, within a private system, only private funds are exchanged and no public money is used”. He went on to say that the solution to increased resources was to allow for private health care services. They are out of touch. Never.
Health April 3rd, 2000
Mr. Speaker, first, I want to congratulate the hon. member for becoming the health critic of the Canadian Alliance. That happened some months ago but today is the first day that the member has asked me a question about health.
While members opposite have been off playing politics, we have been worrying and working toward a better health care system for all Canadians. I think I suspect why this member has been reluctant to raise the issue of health. He is afraid we might quote the Canadian Alliance Party to itself, like quoting the member for Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, who said that two tiered health—
Health March 29th, 2000
Mr. Speaker, members of the NDP had a plan in their 1997 platform. They said that we should have a floor of at least $15 billion for the Canada health and social transfer. We have made it $15.5 billion.
They had a plan to put in $7 billion more to restore health cuts. We have now doubled that and put in $14 billion more.
In November 1998 the leader of that party stood in the House and said that what we really needed was $2.5 billion more in health care. Since then we have put $14 billion more into health care.
Health March 29th, 2000
Mr. Speaker, I believe Canadians know that if we are going to solve the problems in medicare it will take more than just more money.
The NDP may believe that the answer is simply to pour billions more into a system that is not serving Canadians well. I can tell the member and the House that we believe, and I think Canadians agree, that we need a plan, a long term solution to make the system sustainable, as well as long term financing.
Tomorrow we will begin a process, which may last several months, of working on that common plan toward common financing with all governments in the country.