Allan Rock

[Health, November 4th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Finance has provided the technical response to the finance question, but let me respond to the health question.

The member knows that last February we made the largest single investment the government has made by increasing transfers to the provinces. It was for health only and it was $11.5 billion of additional money over only five years.

We have problems in our health care system, but Canadians should know the Government of Canada stands four-square behind it and is providing additional funding for quality care.

[Canadian Institutes Of Health Research Act, November 4th, 1999]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-13, an act to establish the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, to repeal the Medical Research Council Act and to make consequential amendments to other acts.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

[Genetically Modified Foods, November 2nd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, we are naturally very proud of food safety standards in Canada.

As I have already assured the hon. member, all genetically modified foods are submitted in advance to Health Canada so that we can examine all the elements and assess all the information provided about them.

I repeat that, here in Canada, food is safe.

[Reproductive Technologies, November 1st, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, during the last session, we introduced Bill C-47, and we still intend to take action. We are in the process of preparing a bill to address all these issues.

[Health, October 27th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to first acknowledge the hard work done by the member for Parkdale—High Park to increase public awareness of this disease. EB is a rare and devastating genetic disease for which, unhappily, there is no cure. I think the answer lies in research.

For that reason we are creating the Canadian institutes for health research. I expect shortly to be tabling legislation in the House for that purpose. Over the next two years the government will be doubling the amount of money spent by the Government of Canada on health research. Through these efforts we hope the day will come when this devastating disease is wiped from the face of the earth.

[Genetically Modified Foods, October 27th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to assure the hon. member that all genetically modified foods must be submitted to Health Canada in advance. A team of experts examines them all and carries out a complete evaluation, in order to ensure that genetically modified foods are as safe as foods already on the market.

[Health, October 26th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the government is working actively to assist provinces in meeting their responsibilities to make services accessible to Canadians no matter where they live, including the one-third of Canadians who live in rural and remote parts of the country.

For example, we have appointed for the first time an executive director of rural health to work with me in developing health policies that will respond to this real challenge.

Just this past weekend we funded a very successful national conference on strategies for rural health and rural research. We put aside money in the budget for rural health strategies. We are committed to getting the job done.

[Health, October 25th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, we must respect its principles and we must administer the system in such a way that services are available.

Yes, we are having problems within the health care system, but Mrs. Marois and the other ministers of health are working at this time on finding solutions to those problems.

[Health, October 25th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, yes, we firmly believe in the principles of the Canada Health Act. Some months ago, all provincial premiers reiterated their commitment to those principles.

It is our intention to ensure that everyone respects these principles. We recently increased transfer payments to the provinces in the health field in order to ensure they would be in a position to delivery quality services to everyone.

[Genetically Altered Foods, October 25th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ensure the hon. member that all genetically altered foods are submitted to the Department of Health, and that a team of experts evaluates the situation with each product in order to determine if safety standards have been met.