Audrey McLaughlin

[Petitions, December 6th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 I am pleased to deposit a petition today from residents of virtually every province from coast to coast in Canada.

The petitioners suggest that research conducted by Health Canada shows that the number of people, particularly teenagers, who smoke increases as the cost of cigarettes goes down. Tobacco products are clearly linked to forms of cancer, heart disease, stroke, emphysema, chronic bronchitis and many other illnesses. Given the fact that tobacco products contain over 4,000 chemicals of which at least 43 cause cancer in humans and that the use of tobacco products is directly responsible for the premature death of some 38,000 Canadians annually tobacco can rightly be termed a hazardous product.

Therefore the petitioners call upon Parliament to remove the exemption for tobacco under the Hazardous Products Act.

[Violence Against Women, December 6th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, five years ago we rose in this House to commemorate the 14 young women who were killed in Montreal and today we must remember these 14 women, their families and friends, and also propose actions for a policy of zero tolerance of violence against women.

Five years ago when we stood in this House and sadly recognized and commemorated the tragedy of the Montreal massacre we all committed ourselves to action.

It is true that awareness of the issue has increased since that time. While there is never any positive aspect to the loss of such young lives, I think we can say that following that massacre there has been much more attention to the issue.

While there has been much condemnation there is still much to do. Far too little has been done. Sadly few steps have been taken which would actually end the violence; some have, but too few. I would say for example that the current social security review that is being undertaken does not address the question of violence but indeed does address the possibility of less funding under the Canada assistance plan for the provinces and territories which fund transition homes and those organizations which help who are under threat of violence.

As well we have seen several recent court judgments which excuse assault and sexual assault on the grounds of intoxication or the use of drugs. This is totally unacceptable. If we are to be committed to zero tolerance in our society, I join with others in this House to demand that government take action on this issue now. I assure you, Mr. Speaker, that this party will support such immediate action.

As we remember those who lost their lives five years ago, we again recommit ourselves to real action. I call on the government to start today with that real action.

[Violence Against Women, December 6th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the House for unanimous consent to reply to the ministerial statement.

[Health Care, December 5th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, a serious issue of women's health has yet to be addressed by the government and that is the question of breast implants.

This issue was raised during the mandate of the former government and continues to be a serious issue related to the health of women.

Several organizations across the country of breast implant support groups have been formed and have been asking for assistance to make sure information is available to women who have had breast implants, that there is equal access to surgery for removal of breast implants and access to good primary care.

I call on the government to address this serious women's health issue, to respond to these groups that are requesting assistance and to look into the moratorium on breast implants which has not seen an end of their use.

[Health Care, November 29th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I have a supplementary question for the Prime Minister.

With respect, Mr. Speaker, this has been under study for some time. It has been obvious to everyone that these clinics have been operating for some time. I would ask the Prime Minister

the date by which he believes the department can make this decision.

[Health Care, November 29th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister.

The question of private health care clinics in Alberta has been discussed in the House for over a year. Clearly these clinics, which charge both the patient and the government, are part of a two-tier system. The Prime Minister has said he would not allow this.

As the Prime Minister was a part of the government that formulated the Canada Health Act when it came into being, could he say, because apparently the department can still not decide, whether these clinics contravene the Canada Health Act, as he understands it?

[World Trade Organization Agreement Implementation Act, November 28th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, on September 20, I asked the Prime Minister a question that I think is extremely important if we are to have a federal health care system in this country. The question related to the private clinics in Alberta and what action the right hon. Prime Minister was prepared to take on this contravention of the Canada Health Act. At the time the Prime Minister responded that he was committed to maintaining a system where medicare was free and portable for everybody.

Clearly what we see in Alberta is a two-tier health care system in operation. It is not hypothetical but in operation. There is no doubt that private clinics are part of the two-tier system. Certainly any research that has been done indicates that it would be a contravention of the Canada Health Act. Yet the federal government has refused to act.

At the same time we see the premier of Alberta cutting back general health care by some 20 per cent from the province's health care budget by 1997, as he has projected. While it is clear that many ordinary Albertans will have difficulty getting health care, at the same time the two-tier system is allowed to flourish.

If one looks at the current situation in Alberta, one example is that the number of hospital beds in Edmonton has been reduced by 20 per cent. These cuts have had very tragic consequences for many Albertans. Now we hear many stories coming from Alberta about the devastating effects of some of the cuts. If the transfer payment system continues as it is, federal transfers will be phased out for all provinces by the year 2015. That indeed would be the end of a truly national system.

On the one hand in private clinics patients are being charged a fee on top of what the clinic charges the government health insurance plan. Clearly it is a case of government health care plans paying and the consumer paying on top of that.

It is clearly a violation of the Canada Health Act. It is one that must be dealt with immediately and effectively if the federal government is to fulfil its commitment to have a Canada health care system and preserve the five important components of the system. Of course it will not be done if the federal government does not continue its contribution through the equalized program funding.

In answer to my question on September 20 the right hon. Prime Minister concluded by saying: "I hope that Mr. Klein will respect the laws of Canada".

I would like to raise the question again. Hoping that this breach of the Canada Health Act will be dealt with is not good enough. I repeat my question: What is the government prepared to do?

[Parliamentary Employees Staff Relations Act, November 28th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister.

Today Parliament Hill workers were again forced to demonstrate in demanding that the government respect the health and safety of its employees. Parts II and III of the Parliamentary Employees Staff Relations Act would bring workers on Parliament Hill under the legislation of the Canada Labour Code.

I would like to ask the Prime Minister, as I have previously asked the Deputy Prime Minister, why the government has not yet proclaimed this bill to show the respect that it should be showing for its own employees. Why will the government not proclaim these sections?

[Private Health Clinics, November 17th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, on September 20 I raised the issue of private health clinics in Alberta with the Minister of Health. Since then she has done nothing to enforce the Canada Health Act. Members of the Reform Party have been raising this issue but the Reform Party is clear in its intention to move Canada toward a two-tier health system.

The Reform Party wants to end the national system of health care that we have in this country. Clearly, with this kind of opposition the government will do nothing to enforce the Canada Health Care Act.

While the Reform and Liberal parties bicker, the province of Alberta is allowed to continue this violation of the Canada Health Act. I urge the minister to act today to end what is a very clear violation of the Canada Health Act. End it before we have two health care systems in Canada, one for the rich and one for the poor.

[Indian Affairs, November 14th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. As the minister will know, there are 21 DEW line sites that have toxic and non-toxic waste that need to be cleaned up.

The federal government-I would like to know the minister's position on this-has said that it will bury the debris, which is in contravention of the 1984 Inuvialuit land claims agreement and other land claims agreements with the Inuit. Would the minister please tell the House what his position is on this and whether he supports the appeal of this arbitration decision which has ordered the government to respect these agreements?