House of Commons photoLost her last election, in 2019, with 26% of the vote.
Health April 16th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, the issue of patient care in hospitals, the practice of pharmacy and admixing all fall under provincial jurisdiction. I have written to the Ontario health minister to express my concerns. I have also instructed Health Canada officials to co-operate fully in the investigation. If the review determines that there is a federal role, we will seriously consider any changes that are recommended to prevent this from happening again.
Health April 16th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, my thoughts and prayers are with the individuals and families who have been affected by this situation. I have written to the Ontario health minister to voice my concerns. I have also instructed Health Canada officials to co-operate fully with the investigation which the Wynne government is leading.
Health April 16th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for that great question.
As the Minister of Health and as a mother, I am proud to outline areas where our government will take concrete actions in the months ahead. For example, we are moving toward more plain language on drug labels, taking action on products that contain small powerful magnets that threaten children's safety, improving adverse drug reaction reporting and proposing enhanced safety standards for playpens.
Our government is taking action to support the health and safety of Canadians and their families.
Health April 15th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, unlike the previous governments that have made cuts, we have made significant investments in northern health care, northern infrastructure, research like TB, pathways to health equity research, Nutrition North Canada. We have made a number of investments in Canada's north and that party continues to vote against those investments.
Health April 15th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, our government is pleased to have contributed to the Northern Dimension Partnership in Public Health and Social Well-being. In 2011, I informed the organization that Canada would no longer work with the partnership as an official member. We are always looking at ways to make sure hard-earned tax dollars achieve results for Canadians. Our government will continue to focus and prioritize its efforts to address northern health issues through other existing networks like the Arctic Council.
Health March 26th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, as a minister coming from the north, I understand too well how serious this matter is in our aboriginal communities and our communities.
This is why our government has taken a wide approach in our mission to eliminate tuberculosis across Canada. We recently announced two new research studies in Nunavut that will raise awareness of TB and will also evaluate state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment. We are also forgiving loans for doctors and nurses in remote communities. We have signed a tripartite framework agreement in B.C., with $2 billion for health care programs for services for first nations and Inuit. We have made significant investments in—
Health March 20th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, unlike the previous governments that balanced the books on the backs of the provinces and the territories, we have committed long-term stable funding to the provinces and territories that will see a historic level of $40 billion. Since we have formed government, health transfers from Ottawa to the provinces and territories have grown by nearly 35%.
We will continue to work in partnership with the provinces and territories.
Health March 20th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, we respect the provinces and territorial jurisdiction in the area of health care to help the provinces and territories address the issue of wait times. We have made targeted investments of $6.5 billion. We are also providing long-term stable funding arrangement that will see transfers reach a historic level of $40 billion.
Our government will continue to work with the provinces and the territories on wait times in priority areas such as cancer care, cardiac care and diagnostic testing.
Aboriginal Affairs March 7th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from the Yukon for his hard work in promoting the Arctic.
Our government is proud to stand up and defend the Inuit way of life and Canada's north on the world stage.
That is why we have defended the humane seal hunt and called out hypocritical people like the UN special rapporteur, who says he is concerned about food security but opposes the ability of northerners and Inuit to make a living by harvesting and selling the seal products.
That is why we are defending the ability of Inuit hunters to responsibly hunt polar bears in Canada's Arctic.
Health March 6th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, I will repeat my answer from the earlier question.
Canada has one of the safest blood systems in the world. Neither Canadian Blood Services nor Héma-Québec accepts payment for blood donations that would be used for the general public. It is legal for medical companies to purchase human plasma that is used for the development of drugs.
Companies that do this operate under the Food and Drugs Act. If companies do not comply, they are subject to enforcement actions up to and including the loss of their licence.