Allan Rock

[Health, March 23rd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, the NDP would do better, rather than accepting the Tory's spin job, to pay attention to what is happening in the country.

What is happening is that this government has made it clear that private for profit hospitals are not the solution to the problems we face in medicare and that we can find innovations to solve those problems within the principles of the Canada Health Act.

Right now we have the draft bill. We have possible amendments, no regulations. Let us wait to see what the final bill looks like. The member can be assured that this government will be there to stand for the principles of the Canada Health Act.

[Health, March 23rd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, the NDP talks about a secret deal, about privatization agreements between us and the Klein government.

I am disappointed frankly, although I am not surprised, that the NDP has bought the Tory spin job hook, line and sinker. It is nonsense. Those 12 principles do not constitute an agreement between governments and they will never stand in the way of the Government of Canada enforcing the Canada Health Act.

[Health, March 21st, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I invite the member to read the speech which I delivered in Calgary, which very clearly expressed my view on the question. Alberta, like all provinces, must comply with the Canada Health Act, and this legislation will not help.

However, Premier Klein's challenges go far beyond me. He now has to contend with the opposition to this bill expressed by the Alberta Medical Association, the Association of Registered Nurses, chiefs of medical staff in Calgary and Edmonton, the Consumers' Association and the United Nurses of Alberta. We hope that Premier Klein will listen to the people of Alberta. Perhaps he might decide to withdraw the legislation.

[Health, March 21st, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister could not have been clearer. Alberta, like all provinces in their legislation, must respect the five basic principles of the Canada Health Act.

There is another question and it is whether this bill and the measures it represents will do anything about the problems facing medicare. In fact, the evidence is that it will not. With private for profit clinics the waiting lists are longer and the costs are higher.

We hope that Premier Klein will listen to the people of Alberta and withdraw the legislation.

[Health, March 20th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I have not been at all shy in expressing this government's position that bill 11 will not help solve the problems we face in medicare. It will lengthen, not shorten, waiting lists. It will increase, not reduce, costs.

It is a draft bill. Last week the premier was talking about possible amendments. Is the member prepared to assure the House, is the Government of Alberta prepared to assure the House that it will not make further amendments?

The bill may be amended. We have not yet seen the regulations. At the appropriate time we will express our position with respect to the Canada Health Act.

[Health, March 20th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, it is obvious that the status quo is unacceptable. I have clearly said so.

We need two things: first, a long term plan to improve the quality and accessibility of health care; second, more money. We are prepared to invest more money to help develop a plan to change and improve our system.

That is the goal of the meeting with my counterparts later this month.

[Health, March 20th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, we have already made it clear that we oppose the policy of bill 11. We have also told the Alberta government that we want to see the bill in its final form and that we want to see the regulations.

Let me remind the hon. member that on two previous occasions Premier Klein and his government have tried and failed to introduce similar legislation. Twice before he has withdrawn the bill.

Let us see whether once again Premier Klein will listen to the people of Alberta and withdraw this legislation.

[Health, March 20th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, as we have said repeatedly, there is nothing in Alberta's so-called 12 principles that will ever stand in the way of the Government of Canada enforcing the provisions of the Canada Health Act. It will never stand in the way of our protecting Canadian medicare. That is true in the case of Alberta and it is true across the country.

[Health Care, March 17th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is quite wrong of course. She knows of this government's commitment. She knows the action we have already taken. She knows that we have said in the budget and since that we are determined to do what is right for Canadians.

[Health Care, March 17th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I have already declared publicly my strong belief that Bill 11 is bad policy. Based on evidence in Alberta itself, it will cause longer waiting lists and more costs.

However, we do not know whether Bill 11 will become law. Premier Klein may yet qualify it. He may yet amend it. Or, as he has done twice in the past, he may listen to the people of Alberta and withdraw it.