Yvon Charbonneau

[Member For Lac-Saint-Louis, June 13th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to draw the attention of this House to the honour given one of our members recently for his commitment to environmental issues.

On May 25, our colleague, the member for Lac-Saint-Louis and chair of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, was admitted to the Cercle des Phénix de l'environnement et du développement durable.

This tribute to our colleague, an eminent architect of sustainable development, by the entire environmental community of Quebec crowns many years of commitment to the environment.

Everyone in Quebec will remember that our colleague served as minister of the environment for Quebec from 1985 to 1988 and everyone knows that he is the author of Quebec's first environmental policy focused resolutely on conservation.

In closing, I recall that the basic message of our colleague, the recipient of the Phénix environment award, is as follows: “Sustainable development must be the cornerstone of Canada's economic growth”.

Long life to the member for Lac-Saint-Louis.

[Parliament Of Canada Act, June 12th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport, I would like to tell our colleague from Cumberland—Colchester that Saint John, Fredericton and Moncton airports in New Brunswick are part of the national system of airports established with the announcement of the national airports policy in 1994.

This system consists of 26 airports, which handle approximately 94% of all passenger traffic and connect the country from coast to coast.

The federal government promised to ensure the continued operation of airports in this system. To that end, the federal government has retained ownership of 22 of the 26 airports in the national system of airports, which were transferred to local interests under 60-year leases.

The same long term lease will be used to transfer the four remaining national airports system airports, including Fredericton, which the federal government continues to operate as part of the national system.

The Department of Transport is administering these leases in consultation with the various airport operators. This will ensure the national airport system operates effectively and remains a vital effective component of the transportation infrastructure in this country.

The transfer of control over airports in the national airport system to local interests will also make it possible for decisions taken by airport operators to reflect the interests and priorities of the areas they serve, in addition to the fact that these airports will continue to belong to the national system.

These airports are thus making a very important contribution to the prosperity of the areas served.

[Parliament Of Canada Act, June 12th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin my remarks by pointing out to our colleague from Mississauga South that Health Canada made a commitment to work with the provinces and territories, with health care professionals, young people and other key partners to prevent and reduce tobacco smoking in Canada, especially among young people.

We now have solid proof, taken from tobacco industry documents, that the industry's promotional activities were directed at young people, among others.

The federal government's current initiative against smoking is a co-ordinated national strategy worth $100 million over several years and involving legislative, regulatory, statutory, preventive, anti smoking, protective and public education activities. Young people are the primary target of this national initiative.

Health Canada made every possible effort to capture the imagination of young people and make wise use of the enormous influence of peers to help change young people's behaviour. The national advertising campaign really connected with young people.

The ads put together by young people clearly showed the toxic nature of nicotine, which creates a dependency and has serious consequences on health, including the loss of life.

In 1999 Health Canada established a youth advisory committee to advise Health Canada on realistic and effective approaches to reduce youth smoking, empowering youth to return to their own communities to initiate and participate in tobacco control activities.

Furthermore, Health Canada has made available on its website the quit for life teen cessation program. By addressing their unique needs and issues, it provides teens with useful information and tools to help them quit.

Over the past year, Health Canada developed new labelling regulations that were just recently adopted. The new labels include graphic pictures, warnings about health and also information inserts. These labels were largely tested with young people to ensure they have the expected impact.

A key element of any comprehensive tobacco control strategy is price. Health Canada is committed to working with the Department of Finance and others to increase tobacco taxes as a means of reducing tobacco use in Canada.

In conclusion, we must continue to work together to protect young Canadians from this threat.

[Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, June 12th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to inform the House and all Canadians that June is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, ALS, awareness month.

This form of sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a rapidly progressing neuromuscular disease that leads to total paralysis and eventual death, generally within three to five years of diagnosis. In Canada, some 2,000 people have this devastating disease.

Since 1977 the ALS Society of Canada has been supporting research, developing and distributing educational materials, promoting public awareness, and in partnership with regional units providing ALS patients and their families with medical equipment and support.

Today the ALS Society of Canada is concluding its annual conference in Ottawa. I encourage members to welcome the society and hear its message.

I pay tribute to this volunteer society.

[Seniors' Month, June 7th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind my colleagues and all Canadians that June is seniors' month pretty well across Canada.

It is an opportunity for all of us to reflect on the positive aspects of population aging and to recognize the contribution seniors make to the life of the family, the community and society in general.

The role seniors play is irreplaceable. Within the family, they provide care and support. They provide advice. They provide a continuity and pass on knowledge and values from one generation to another.

Also, many seniors volunteer their fine efforts to good causes. In fact, seniors represent the age group that spends the most time volunteering. Next year will be another opportune time to pay them tribute, since 2001 has been declared the International Year of Volunteers.

It is in this context that I invite Canadians to pay tribute to seniors throughout the month of June.

[Health, June 2nd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, by May 30, all health care professionals were advised of the possible risk associated with using this drug. They were told that the drug would no longer be sold effective August 8. On May 31, the public was notified as well.

It is now up to patients, with their health care professionals, to make the final decisions, but they are being asked to do so by August 8.

[Health, June 2nd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, this matter has been studied by Health Canada, which recommended that the drug be taken off the shelves effective August 8.

Health Canada also took into account the fact that many patients are using the drug safely and it is recommending that they consult their health care professional to determine if they should switch to an alternative or if they can continue to use this drug. A warning will be issued on August 8, however, and the drug will no longer be sold.

[Canadian Cancer Society, June 2nd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, the Canadian Cancer Society is celebrating the world's largest event for those affected by cancer—National Cancer Survivors Day—on Sunday, June 4, 2000. This year marks the 13th anniversary of the event in North America.

On National Cancer Survivors Day we honour survivors who are living with and beyond cancer. National Cancer Survivors Day also recognizes the important role which family and friends play in the life of a cancer survivor, as well as the efforts of the many health care professionals and researchers who devote their lives to making life more comfortable for people faced with this disease.

Directly or indirectly, cancer affects all of us. In Canada, nearly one person in three stands a chance of being diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime. But, thanks to new methods of testing, more widespread dissemination of information, and the latest treatments, over half of them can now hope to make a full recovery—

[Unesco Institute For Statistics, June 1st, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to salute in this House the decision recently made by UNESCO to establish its new institute for statistics in Montreal. The institute will be the first of eight UNESCO units to be located in North America.

The presence of this institute in Montreal will have an economic impact of some $60 million over 10 years. Some thirty jobs will be created within the next year, and the number of employees could quickly double.

Our Minister of Foreign Affairs said that “the dynamic character of Montreal and its many research centres, complete with state-of-the-art facilities, will prove to be a crucial factor in the development and growth of UNESCO's new institute”.

This project also received the support of the Friendship Group of Parliamentarians for UNESCO, which believes that the establishment of this institute could help substantially raise UNESCO's profile in Canada and North America, while also ensuring it desirable international influence.

[Division No. 1323, May 29th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, the government has committed approximately $1.4 billion to compensate and assist those infected with hepatitis C through the blood supply system.

Of this amount, our government has already spent $875 million in order to meet its financial obligations to victims under the 1986-1990 hepatitis C settlement agreement. Under this agreement, which was approved by the courts, we have probably succeeded in avoiding ten years of litigation. An independent administrator was appointed by the courts. A process for handling applications has been put in place and applicants' cheques should soon be issued.

In addition, in the case of those infected before 1986 and after 1990, the government has agreed to pay some $525 million towards care, rather than in hard cash. For it is care that people are greatly in need of when they are sick.

We consulted people throughout Canada. We listened to what they had to say and we took action accordingly, putting $50 million into hepatitis C research and the creation of community support programs. We have also set aside $125 million for improved safety and monitoring of the blood supply system.

I would also like to add that an important component of our contribution is an agreement with the provinces and territories to pay half the costs, up to $50 million, to identify and notify all individuals who have been infected with hepatitis C through the blood system so they can receive the care and treatment they need. We have offered a $300 million transfer to the provinces and territories. Our plan is sensible, it provides the care that people living with hepatitis C need and it is a compassionate plan.