Allan Rock

[Tobacco, December 3rd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, we will examine the principles and the nature of Bill S-13 in assessing our further steps. I want to emphasize for the member and for the House the steps already taken by the government.

In the last 18 months we passed the toughest, smartest and most effective anti-tobacco legislation in the western world. It allows the Government of Canada to control tobacco as a product. It limits advertising. Within years it will ban all sponsorships and promotion.

In the next five years we will spend $100 million not only to enforce that statute, but to target smoking among kids because that is in the public interest.

[Health, December 1st, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, this morning I published the first annual report from the Government of Canada to Canadians on the progress of our strategy against HIV and AIDS, a strategy in which we are investing $42 million each and every year.

While there are daunting challenges before us there were some encouraging things that were reported this morning. We are working in partnership with Canadians. The voices of the communities are being heard. We are targeting youth in particular, aiming toward prevention through education and instruction. We are investing in research. We are supporting community efforts. We are focusing this year on youth.

[Aids, December 1st, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, today marks the 11th World AIDS Day. It is important to reflect on the problems and the challenges before us, and to develop an awareness of the risks involved, particularly among young people.

It is to that end that we have adopted a Canada-wide strategy against AIDS. The Government of Canada has displayed leadership in this matter and on the issue of drug research.

We are now improving the approval process for new drugs, and we have already taken action in that respect. This is in the public interest.

[Health, November 30th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, if the member noticed she would be aware that we have undertaken a top to bottom review of the health protection branch.

There have been problems in the branch over the years. They go back many years. We have come to grips with those, put forward different models and different approaches for public comment. Public meetings have been held across the country.

We are in the process of examining various ways in which the health protection branch can more effectively discharge its responsibilities to ensure the safety of the public.

[Health, November 30th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has made clear that health care will be the subject of our next major reinvestment as indeed it is.

The matters to which the member refers are between the province and its nursing unions. What the province of British Columbia chooses to do in relation to its priorities in relation to its nursing unions is a matter for the province to determine.

[Hepatitis C, November 24th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the government just takes a different position on this issue than the government of Premier Harris.

Let me give an example. The only known drug to help hepatitis C is Interferon. At the moment in Ontario it costs about $10,000 out of the pocket of the victim in some cases to get that drug, $10,000 for one course of treatment. The $10,000 cheque that the Harris government is mailing out is not going to do much good to the person who needs that drug.

What we propose is cost sharing with the provinces to get that drug into their hands without any out of pocket expense. Why will they not do what we propose and help those who are sick with treatment and not with payment?

[Hepatitis C, November 24th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the government has kept its word. It has acted out of principle. It has extended with other provinces an offer to dissolve litigation when we felt there was some argument as to fault and in relation to everybody else who contracted hepatitis C through the blood system.

We have offered assistance in making sure they get the care they need without paying money out of their pockets; research to help us find treatment and a cure for this disease, much needed research; trace back programs to find people at risk so they can get treatment; and $125 million over—

[Hepatitis C, November 23rd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, we are increasingly optimistic that the claim can be resolved quickly. I inquired last week whether we could fast track the payments to the emergency claimants and I am told that the lawyers think they are close enough to an agreement with the parties on the overall claim that it might be reached before we would get payment to those in emergency need.

I am hopeful that progress is being made and I hope to be able to report to the member and the House soon that those claims have been resolved.

[Health Care, November 23rd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the member has not read my correspondence with the Alberta College of Physicians and Surgeons to which I wrote not once, but on two different occasions to express our commitment to the Canada Health Act, our concern about the privatization of services, and our request, which the college ultimately acceded to, to put off the consideration of the private hospital's application for a licence until after the debate on Bill 37 in the Alberta Legislature.

That debate is now going on and the Liberal Party in that province is making its position clear, as we do here, that privatized medicine is not acceptable.

[Hepatitis C, November 23rd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, when I met some weeks ago with my provincial counterparts in Regina I offered to share the cost of medical services not covered by insurance so that no one who contracted hepatitis C through the blood system would have to pay out of pocket. I offered up to $300 million to share that cost. I have yet to have agreement from the minister of health for Ontario.

I wish Ontario would join with this government in making sure that those who are sick are looked after properly. In Ontario today it can cost up to $10,000 to get interferon, the only drug that can be used. Will the Government of Ontario not work with us to provide care to the—