Leona Aglukkaq

[Health, September 30th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, we have been working with the provinces, territories and first nations communities to develop the pandemic plan.

I met with all the chiefs in British Columbia this week and addressed the National Assembly. As well, I have been to Manitoba five times to meet with the chiefs and Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. I have been working very closely with all first nations communities in our country to develop their plans.

We have a plan in place and we are acting on it.

[Health, September 30th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I know full well what it is like to live in first nations communities because I come from one.

I have said that what happened before was insensitive and offensive and I have asked my deputy minister to investigate the matter. I have had meetings with Grand Chiefs Ron Evans and David Harper in Manitoba in regard to the situation. Once I receive the information and a full report, I will travel back to Manitoba to meet with the chiefs to discuss the situation.

[Points of Order, September 28th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, just for the record, I would like to correct a statement that I made in response to the H1N1 question today. I meant to say early November and not early October.

[Health, September 28th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the provinces and territories have been working very hard since April to deal with the situation before us. They understand fully and clearly what is before them in terms of the rollout of the vaccine.

Provinces and territories continue to work together to determine the best way to do the rollout come the first week of October. I will continue to work with the provinces and territories. In fact, this morning I was on calls with them again, planning for the rollout of the vaccine in the fall.

[Health, September 28th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the pandemic plan for first nations communities was established back in 2006 along with the provinces and territories. I personally met with Grand Chief Ron Evans again this week. I have met with him about five times since the whole issue started with Manitoba. I also met with Chief Harper over the weekend. We are working together to get to the bottom of the situation.

Once a report is available, I will sit down with them to go through what actually happened.

[Health, September 18th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I want to be very clear that every Canadian who wants to receive the vaccine will receive the vaccine. Unlike other countries, Canada is very fortunate to have a plan in place that is being implemented, and we are on track. The vaccine will be available the first week of November for every Canadian. Unlike other countries, we are very fortunate to have a plan in place that is working for Canadians.

[Health, September 18th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, we have a plan that we adopted back in 2006.

Our goal is to ensure that there is a balance between speed and gathering as much information on the vaccine's safety and effectiveness before we start distributing it across the country. We are on target. We have confirmed that we will be distributing the vaccine to provinces and territories the first week of November. We have been saying that all along.

That plan was endorsed by all the provinces and territories yesterday at the FPT meeting in Winnipeg.

[Health, September 16th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, tomorrow I will be meeting with my provincial and territorial counterparts in Winnipeg to build on the excellent co-operation that we have seen thus far.

We remain on target in producing a safe and effective vaccine for Canadians. Other necessary elements of our pandemic plan are also being implemented, working with the provinces and the territories.

Our commitment to co-operation and the health of Canadians stands in stark contrast to the leader of the Liberal Party, who is only interested in playing politics with H1N1. The leader of the Liberal Party should take—

[Health, September 15th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the only party that thinks H1N1 is a postal code is that party.

Our goal is to ensure the balance between the needs and the speed of the timing of the vaccine. We are gathering as much information as we can on the vaccine to ensure that it is safe and effective for all Canadians. Thanks to the actions of Health Canada, we will be able to approve that vaccine quickly and all Canadians who want to receive the vaccine will be able to do so.

[Health, September 15th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I want to be very clear that every Canadian who wants to receive the vaccine will receive it. The vaccine rollout is currently being developed. A special advisory committee made up of chief medical officers is working on that and I expect that vaccine rollout document to be released some time this week.

We are working with the provinces and territories to ensure that all Canadians who want to receive the vaccine will be able to do so.