David Dingwall

[Purchase Of Influenza Vaccine, April 15th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member raises a question which is quite contradictory to a previous question one of her colleagues raised on the floor of the House.

The primary concern of the Government of Canada, as I am sure it is of all hon. members despite political differences, is obviously to protect the health of Canadians.

There are Canadian companies which wanted a Canadian solution to a particular problem. I think we have arrived at that. We have an agreement in principle which I think will satisfy all of the participants. At the same time the primary concern is to provide a quality product for those individuals across the country who have to use it, namely the children.

[Purchase Of Influenza Vaccine, April 15th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for raising the question which is indeed important to all Canadians.

The member may not be aware, but the Government of Canada purchases approximately 1 per cent of the vaccine in question. Ninety-nine per cent is purchased by the provinces. We act as a facilitator for the provinces. The member is quite correct that yesterday I did announce at committee that there was an agreement in principle between the participants and that the details of that particular agreement will be announced very shortly.

[Preston And Area Development Fund, March 25th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the hon. member for his unexpected question.

I assure the hon. member his analysis is correct. The fund will lapse on March 31, 1994. Through the efforts of the member himself as well as other community leaders we hope to be able to replace that particular structure and that fund in the foreseeable future in order to provide economic benefits to one of the most depressed areas of the province of Nova Scotia.

I want to thank the hon. member for his efforts in assisting the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency in that objective.

[Social Housing, March 25th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, it is not a matter of changing one's mind. It is a matter of getting the best value for the taxpayer's dollar.

All options will certainly be examined. There will be meaningful consultations with the provinces and various stakeholders. I want to assure the hon. member the suggestion she has made which seems to be coming not only from members of her party but also from other individuals in the province of Quebec and elsewhere is something my government and hopefully other governments will seriously consider.

I do not wish to raise false expectations that large sums of money will be readily available for that sector. However it is on the table. It is an option and we are considering it.

[Social Housing, March 25th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for her excellent question.

I apprise her that we are attempting to achieve greater savings than $120 million over the next four years in view of the co-operation which is taking place between the Government of Canada and the different provinces. Until such time as we can identify for this fiscal year the amount of those savings it would be premature for me to announce on the floor of the House of Commons the exact way in which those expenditures are to be made.

I do want to assure the hon. member that we are consulting with the provinces. We will be consulting with various stakeholders across the country in order to try to achieve better value for the taxpayer's dollar.

[Biovac, March 25th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I say to the hon. member again that the paramount consideration is and must be the health of Canadians, particularly young children.

No decision has been consummated by the Government of Canada that has bought this vaccine on behalf of provinces since 1973. I want to assure the hon. member the allegations that are being suggested by her will be reviewed. Hopefully we can have a Canadian solution to a very serious Canadian problem.

[Biovac, March 25th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for her question. The paramount concern in all the deliberations must be and ought to be the health of Canadians, particularly young children.

Since 1973 the Government of Canada, in co-operation with the provinces, has been purchasing vaccines in bulk. No determination has been reached. The information the member has provided to the House is somewhat premature. No decisions have been made with regard to contracts which have been let. I am hopeful a decision will be made soon and I am hopeful we will have a Canadian solution to a Canadian problem.

[Government Contracts, March 24th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I am tempted to refer-however I do not think it would be politically correct in terms of the language of the House-to the question as silly.

However the hon. member must realize that an answer was provided by the Minister of Health. The specifics were provided to the House. I am sorry the hon. member does not like the information he is getting. I guess the hon. member would want me to say that it was $184 million and not something substantially less than $5 million.

The facts have been provided by the Minister of Health. All the information is readily available. I indicated on a previous occasion that if the hon. member wants the details all he has had to do is ask, slip us a note.

[Government Contracts, March 24th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his question because it gives us an opportunity to set the record straight.

Not all that long ago the hon. member stood in the House and indicated to members of Parliament that it was a $184 million contract. Today it is a $5 million contract. The hon. member should know that the Minister of Health has responded to the specifics of a question that was raised by a colleague, perhaps in the hon. member's absence.

However on the broader issue with regard to advertising, polling and communications, the hon. member is correct. The Prime Minister issued a directive. We are presently reviewing the policy and looking at the monetary sum allocated for the purposes of the particular program.

I am sure the House leader of the Reform Party would concur because in the substance of the question he did not in any way disagree with the government using polling or consulting or advertising for those purposes. I want to assure the hon. member that the matter is under active review.

[Ministerial Regional Offices, March 16th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, it would be inappropriate for me to comment on what the previous administration has done. However I am glad the hon. member has raised the issue. Perhaps his colleague and friend in the back row might be able to provide him with the necessary information.

Surely the hon. member is not suggesting to Canadians that ministers of the crown who have to travel across the country extensively to carry out their responsibilities are not to meet with Canadians, are not to meet with various groups, regardless of what their socioeconomic standings are. Those are the purposes of ministerial regional offices.

I hope the hon. member will take note that all he has to do to find out the costs associated with ministerial regional offices is to draft a letter to me or to the President of the Treasury Board. All the information will be provided and he will see clearly and unequivocally the costs we have saved.