Mr. Speaker, we are complying with the Patent Act. I hope the Bloc will agree with us that the priority is to protect the health of all Canadians, including Quebecers.
House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2000, with 54% of the vote.
Health October 19th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, we are complying with the Patent Act. I hope the Bloc will agree with us that the priority is to protect the health of all Canadians, including Quebecers.
Health October 19th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, we do not concede that any laws are being broken. I repeat that discussions continue with Bayer to work out any issues.
I trust that the Alliance Party and the other parties in the House agree with us that the priority is the health of Canadians. Why is the Alliance Party now appearing to put the health of Canadians behind some company's commercial interests?
Health October 19th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, the health department set up a special office to deal with possible bioterror activities. What the minister announced yesterday, and it was a good announcement and I am surprised she is not praising it, is just the most recent of a series of steps to protect Canadians.
Health October 19th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member has misstated the Patent Act. There is no requirement to declare a case of national emergency. The act can apply to extreme urgency or where the use for which the authorization is sought is a public or non-commercial use.
The hon. member is totally off base in his allegations. I do not know why he and his party fail to be concerned with the main priority, protecting the health of Canadians. Why is that not important to them?
Health October 19th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, I do not accept the premise of the question, but I do want to report that Health Canada officials have been and continue to be in discussions with Bayer to work out any difficulties or issues.
I think that the hon. member and his party, all members of the House, Bayer and others in Canada should be willing to work together to serve what I trust we all agree is the main priority, protecting the health of Canadians.
Canada--U.S. Border October 18th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my hon. friend's comment about my recovery from surgery, but he must be suffering from some kind of blindness himself if he cannot see what the government has been doing.
We have been vigorously pressing for prompt action on the part of the American authorities, the people who need to take the steps which will allow traffic to flow more freely between our two countries. Again I repeat that I had talks yesterday. I remind him of the efforts of the Minister of National Revenue. My hon. friend ought to get a new pair of glasses and then he will see what actions have been taken. I look forward to seeing results of those actions before too long.
It was not at a committee hearing that I had the meetings--
Canada--U.S. Border October 18th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, I can inform the House that I personally was in Washington yesterday speaking to senior members of congress, both the house of representatives and the senate, and members of the administration about these matters. I vigorously urged them to take steps to do what is necessary to get the border operating more smoothly. I know my colleague the Minister of National Revenue is working on measures in that regard.
I can assure the House and the people of Windsor and Detroit that this is one of our top priorities. We are pushing for early solutions because of the importance of this to the two economies.
Points of Order October 16th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, I would be delighted if the House would agree that I would be so included. I would appreciate that very much.
Points of Order October 16th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, if you look at yesterday's Hansard you will see a list of those who voted yea in support of the opposition day motion, but my name does not appear.
I want to say to the House that I was present during the vote. It was not my intention to abstain. It was my intention to vote with my colleagues in support of the opposition day motion. I shared the position of my colleagues in support of it then and I share that position now.
I hope there will be no misunderstanding on this. I did not abstain and did not intend to abstain.
Electoral Reform June 13th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, it is obvious from the way the House is shaped that the people's votes are reflected in the House of Commons. This is confirmed by public opinion polls.
I noticed that when my hon. friend's party was in power in provincial governments it would not touch proportional representation with a 10 foot pole.