House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2000, with 56% of the vote.
Health Care November 18th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, Canadians across the country are concerned about the future of medicare. They have seen changes in recent years. They have seen cutbacks. The government has made it clear that the era of cuts is over.
The Prime Minister has made it clear that health care will be the subject of our next major reinvestment. We have said that in the next budget the government will reinvest the dividends that we have earned through years of fiscal discipline.
Hazardous Products November 17th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, Canadians by now, along with most members of the House, have learned to filter out the fevered rhetoric of the New Democratic Party. Instead they focus on what the reality is.
The reality was explained calmly yesterday by scientists from Health Canada who tabled the proof, who took the public through the facts, who explained which toys are safe and explained why others are being taken off the shelves.
I believe it is clear to Canadians what course they should take. It is equally clear that this government has acted in the public interest.
Hazardous Products November 17th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, we went one step further than that. We took toxic toys off the market. That is the way we should behave.
I will say something else to the member. Rather than acting as the member would have us do without evidence, we spent the last many months with other countries examining the facts in scientific tests to determine what the facts were. Based on the evidence, all of which was published on Monday of this week, we acted in a responsible way. For us the bottom line is the safety of Canadians.
Health November 17th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, in fairness to my profession, I think I should first make it clear that lawyers do not wiggle. They step deftly. Let me do just that in pointing out that so far as the member and his party are concerned, the verdict is in. The verdict is that if Canadians want to see medicare protected, if they want to see health care in the future as they have seen in the past, if they want to see investments in social programs and social justice, they will support this party and this government.
Health November 17th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, if Canadians want to know where the parties stand on medicare, they should consult the record. When they look at the record they will find out where the Reform Party stands on medicare and the Canada Health Act.
They will find that the leader of the Reform Party said he “would amend the Canada Health Act to allow user fees, deductibles and private delivery of services”. He said that he “would require some Canadians to pay at least a portion of their own health care costs under certain conditions”.
The Reform Party would cut $9 billion from social programs. And that is the party that expects us to listen to it on medicare.
Hazardous Toys November 17th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, we acted absolutely responsibly. We closely monitored the situation. We examined the studies presented by Greenpeace and others. We collected evidence and, after considering all the facts, we took action. Yesterday, we issued a notice to all Canadian parents concerning toys that pose a risk.
Hazardous Toys November 17th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, we gathered evidence showing the risks and, yesterday, we took action. We put out a notice to parents, advising them to discard toys that constitute a hazard or pose a risk. We acted responsibly.
Division No. 261 November 16th, 1998
moved that the bill, as amended, be concurred in.
Health November 16th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, we have already taken action. Today, Health Canada issued a health notice on the products referred to by the hon. member.
Today as a precautionary measure Health Canada announced as a warning to all parents that they should remove from the home certain objects that are made of vinyl and that are used or designed for use in the mouth of infants and young children. We are co-operating with the Retail Council of Canada to remove those objects from the shelves of stores across the country.
In addition—
Health November 16th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, many responses come to mind from the health transition fund we created to the $1.5 billion increase in the provincial transfer. The government has shown through the last difficult five years its commitment to health as a priority. The Prime Minister has also said that in the months ahead we will demonstrate once again that health is to us a central concern.
This member speaks of twisting the facts. He is the member of the House who stood in his place and said that the Canada Health Act was outdated legislation. He called for choice which we all know is a code word for American style private insurance. This man and his party should be ashamed of themselves.