Allan Rock

[Health, May 12th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, just two months ago the government announced that it is increasing by $11.5 billion over the next five years the amount of money available to the provinces for health care. Just two months ago we announced our plans to spend $1.4 billion ourselves on areas like health research, early intervention with children to prevent illness and improving health for aboriginal and first nations throughout this country.

We know where the Reform Party stands. Reform would rip up the Canada Health Act, turn its back on public health care and opt for an American style model. We believe that health care is part of the fabric of this country.

[Health, May 12th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the money we have given the provinces should help them address their responsibilities when it comes to MRIs.

This is not an issue of dollars for the Reform Party. It is not an issue of technicalities. It is an issue of policy and philosophy for that party. It does not agree with Canada in our approach to medicare. It does not agree with the Canada Health Act. It does not agree with the equity of making health care available to everybody regardless of what they have in their wallets. It takes a different approach.

We will never agree with the Reform Party and their American style approach to medicare.

[Health, May 12th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, one of the reasons that the Americans spend so much money on health care is that their system is so inefficient compared to ours.

We have just announced that over the next five years we are putting an additional $11.5 billion into the hands of provinces and they have promised to use it for health care.

We believe in medicare, unlike the Reform Party that would repeal the Canada Health Act and take the American route. If the hon. member does not like the American system, why is he arguing in favour of it?

[Medical Use Of Marijuana, May 11th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I have no intention of appealing this decision.

As I have already said in the House, we intend to start clinical trials later this year. The government intends to pursue research on the medical use of marijuana for people who are gravely ill.

[Agriculture, May 10th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member knows the Pest Management Regulatory Agency, which is responsible for examining and processing applications for approval of pesticides, has to take into account the science, not only the needs of the producers and growers but also the needs of the environment and the safety of consumers.

Farmers themselves want to be certain that the food supply is safe. The PMRA will continue its work responsibly assessing all the factors and will act at the earliest possible time in the public interest.

[Health, May 4th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, it is essential that we offer opportunities to our best and brightest to keep them in this country, to keep young people coming out of universities in Canada. To that end, in the most recent budget the government increased substantially our investment in health research.

We announced our intention to create the Canadian institutes of health research and over the next three years to effectively double the amount of money we spend on health research. There will be $225 million for the new research institutes over the next three years; $50 million in addition for the national health, research and development fund; $35 million to the Canadian health services research foundation; and $25 million—

[Canada Pension Plan, May 4th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the member knows, or certainly should know, that in the last five years we have taken active and effective steps to reduce the level of smoking in Canada.

Tobacco is a legal product, but we are interested in reducing the level of smoking and preventing young children from starting to smoke. We have introduced the toughest, most effective anti-tobacco legislation in the western world. There are countries around the world that are copying it and using it as a model. We are investing $100 million over five years in enforcing that statute and in efforts to discourage young people from starting to smoke.

[Hepatitis C, April 28th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier in Oral Question Period to anybody who is listening, the government has acted on something that perhaps the opposition does not recognize.

We acted on a principle. That principle was that those who are ill deserve care, not cash but care. Those who became ill because of the public blood system will get the care they need for their whole lives if the provinces will accept our offer.

We have offered to share the costs for the whole of their lives to make sure that any medical service they need, whether it is drugs that are not covered by insurance or nursing care, is provided without those people paying from their own pockets.

[Hepatitis C, April 28th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the member could not have been listening when I responded to the member's question about the amounts we have committed to help those who have been made ill with hepatitis C. We are committed to providing the care they need in the future.

[Hepatitis C, April 28th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the victims themselves have been at the table this last year arguing for and working on an agreement that is soon going to go before the courts for approval. Once agreed, the payments can begin.