Allan Rock

[Health Care, February 12th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the important thing is for governments to work together in partnership to improve health care.

Our commitment is clear. We have made clear that health care for us is a priority. We will reflect that in the budget we table in the House next week. That is what Canadians expect of us, to show that health is our priority.

We are there to work in partnership with the provinces which of course must deliver services on the ground to make sure that Canadians are well served by their health care system.

[Health, February 12th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, in a few days the Government of Canada will table its budget and we will follow through on our commitments.

I remind the House that there are two ways to endanger medicare in this country. One way, of course, is to follow the counsel of the extreme right over there, the Reform Party, which would repeal the Canada Health Act and walk away from publicly funded health care.

The other way is to follow the counsel, the folly of the NDP, and spend until we are bankrupt. We are not going to do that. We are going to take a balanced approach. We are going to make sure that medicare is there for the long term.

[Health, February 12th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the best way of dealing with the difficulties in health care is for governments to work together toward the same objective, which is to strengthen quality health care throughout the country.

In the days ahead the Government of Canada will be announcing details of the contributions it will make toward that cause, not only through money but through collaboration with our provincial partners.

I can assure the hon. member and I can assure the House that the manner in which we follow through will reflect the depth of our commitment to that cause.

[Health, February 11th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the member is dead wrong.

Health Canada has for some months been engaged in a systematic and methodical program to make sure that medical devices are ready for the year 2000. I can tell the House that in the highest risk devices category, 96% of manufacturers have responded to request for compliance information. None of the highest risk devices to date have been reported as non-compliant.

The names of those who have not responded have been published on the website. Attention has been drawn to that fact. We continue and we will redouble our efforts to make sure we are ready for the year 2000.

[Health Care, February 11th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, along with the Minister of the Environment I met with the residents of Frederick Street some months ago when I was in Sydney. I said to them then and I repeat now that our concern is for their safety and for their health.

Let me say two things. First, the Can-Tox study was made public. We believe it was right, but we are going to look at the report which we are receiving this afternoon and we will study it carefully.

Second, a joint action group made up of people from the community is looking at strategies. That is where the strategy should start. We will support that process now and in the future.

[Health Care, February 11th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, clearly for us health is a key priority. Clearly, as the Prime Minister said, we will be reinvesting in health care significantly in the coming budget.

I would ask the hon. member to wait for next week's budget. We will take steps to improve the situation.

[Human Cloning, February 11th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, it is common knowledge that the present government opposes human cloning. In Canada, we have had a voluntary moratorium since 1995, and a year ago, we introduced Bill C-47 to ban this and other practices.

We are currently examining a bill to do the same thing, and I intend to table it shortly.

[Health Care, February 11th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the problems one sees on the ground are being coped with by provincial governments. We are going to be there next week in the budget to announce measures we believe will help them.

Let me make clear that the measures we will announce will be intended to strengthen our public system of medicare in the country supported by the Canada Health Act. That is not something the Reform Party understands or appreciates.

We all know what the Reform Party would do. It would repeal the Canada Health Act. It would have American style medicine in Canada. It would have private insurance. That is something we will never do.

[Health Care, February 11th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, it is true the provinces are having real difficulties meeting their responsibilities and delivering services.

Just last week the Prime Minister led an effort to develop an agreement among governments in Canada to act on health as a priority and will soon be announcing measures in that regard.

The hon. member raises an issue which does not sit comfortably with the Reform philosophy. Reform just a few weeks ago said it would devote one half of the surplus toward debt reduction and the other half toward tax relief, apparently leaving nothing for health care.

[Privilege, February 9th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I will direct that it be removed from the website and put in the appropriate place.