House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2011, with 77% of the vote.
Health February 8th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, Mr. Romanow did not say much in his interim report but he did say that the principles of the Canada Health Act were routinely ignored. He said that it was as obvious as a slap in the face and that it needed overhauling, and yet the federal government has done nothing for eight long years.
What is the federal answer? It is to wait even longer.
When will the government get on board with the provinces and help fix what is broken?
Health February 7th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, the provinces are threatening to pull out of the social union if something is not done in 90 days, while the Romanow report is all questions and no answers. We are no closer to a federal solution now than we were when Mr. Romanow started last May.
Since 1993 the government has spent $243 million just studying health care and it is still studying. The train has left the station and the provinces are already on their way so when will the government get on board?
Health February 7th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, two years ago the former health minister said that the status quo was not an option, that we had to improve medicare, and that we had enough reports and commissions.
He said that in March 2000. Yesterday we got another report, one with no direction.
It is obvious to Canadians that the government is stalling. How much time does it need?
Health February 6th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, there have been seizures, comas, brain damage and deaths. Doctors lack this lifesaving information because Health Canada is hiding it.
The Society for Diabetic Rights demands a public inquiry on access to insulin from animal sources. Will the minister call for an inquiry and ensure that Canadian diabetics get the drugs they need?
Health February 6th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, Health Canada has been covering up information about synthetic insulin. An access request shows that Health Canada is sitting on 465 reports of adverse reactions, including eight deaths.
Why would the minister's department hide this life and death information?
Health December 12th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, there is not one penny more for health care transfers in the budget. The Liberals are refusing to admit that health care is sliding into a crisis. Seventy-five per cent of our physicians refuse to accept more patients. Operating rooms are being shut down because there are no nurses. People are dying as wait lists grow longer.
The budget ignores the rising costs of drugs, new technologies and an aging population. The federal government's contribution is less now than it was in 1994. Canadians are pleading for some relief for health care.
What they got was the cold shoulder from the finance minister and the sorry sight of the health minister waving a newspaper prop to attack another premier to deflect his own failures.
In the last decade the government spent $242 million studying health care, but when it comes to actually helping the provinces deliver health care it is not up to the task.
Health Care December 7th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, I am not sure whether passing the buck to the provinces is a good idea because the government has not put back the money that it took in 1994 to the level that it was then. The Liberals' answer to health care cuts is to pull the money out of the system and then study it to death.
Do members know how much the Liberals have spent on studies since 1994? They have spent $242 million.
When will the government stop the studying and resolve the health care crisis that it created?
Health Care December 7th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, the upcoming budget must be about priorities. If it is going to reflect the real priorities of Canadians, then there must be some real increase in health care transfer money. The budget leak suggests that the government will not announce one penny more for health care.
Will the Prime Minister reverse his government's dismal record on health care cuts and get his priorities straight?
Auditor General's Report December 6th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, the minister may defend his actions on Health Canada but health care continues to suffer.
Let us take a look at another couple of examples from the auditor's report.
Six large national projects were approved. They were not eligible for the funding under the branch's own program guidelines.
Another one is that projects were eligible for one year of funding but were approved for five years of funding. We are not talking small change. We are talking $1.2 billion a year.
When will the waste stop in this minister's department?
Auditor General's Report December 6th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, the auditor general has revealed that Health Canada is another hotbed of waste and mismanagement. One example is the HIV-AIDS strategy.
A reviewer rejects a submission for an $84,000 study. Two external reviewers recommend major revisions. What happens? In spite of the negative assessment, the project gets the go-ahead, not for $84,000 but for $130,000.
How can that be?