Stephen Harper

[Health, February 4th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I am still not getting a clear answer so I will try it again.

The federal government wants the bulk of the new health care money to go to new promises. The provinces want to allocate these funds to essential services.

Will the government work with the provinces to ensure that the existing essential services are restored and viable before offering new promises?

[Health, February 4th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, the House will note that the minister avoided the question.

Everyone wants core services restored. For example, the Canadian Medical Association said:

...75% of new funding--be allocated to basic hospital services, physicians services, nursing and other services.

Canadians do not want new money spent on new promises and new bureaucracy.

Let me be clear to the minister once again. Will the government allow the provinces to spend the new money on restoring the core of health care services?

[Health, February 4th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, as the first ministers prepare to meet this evening, Canadians are clear in what they want from the health care system. They want results. They do not want grand schemes. They want to see the current system fixed. They want more doctors, more hospital beds and shorter waiting lists. In the paper today the government talks about a whole bunch of new money.

I want to ask the government, will it allow the bulk of this money for the provinces to be spent on restoring the core of the health care system?

[Health, February 3rd, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, Health Canada already has been hiring recently at record rates. Surely we do not need yet another bureaucracy to get some accountability.

Canadians want transparency in the health care system, but they do not want the federal government to impose its will on the provinces.

Will the Prime Minister promise to respect the priorities of each province and reach bilateral funding and accountability agreements with each one?

[Health, February 3rd, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, one of the federal proposals, when it comes to accountability and transparency, is apparently to create a new council to monitor health care.

To put this in perspective, we have the federal Department of Health, the provincial health departments and, in most provinces, we have regional health authorities, hospital boards and independent health research institutes.

Why does the government propose to spend money on yet another new expensive bureaucracy?

[Health, February 3rd, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, tomorrow the first ministers conference on health care begins. Canadians have been clear they want the federal government to work with the provinces, not to bicker with the provinces. Instead, the Prime Minister fired off a take it or leave it letter to the premiers in which he said most federal money would only be available for new health care initiatives.

I ask the Prime Minister this. When Canadians and the provinces are saying that the existing system needs more money, why is the government focused on spending money on new health care programs?

[British Columbia Avalanche, February 3rd, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, this was a weekend of double tragedy. As we mourned the loss of seven astronauts, we learned of another avalanche in British Columbia which took the lives of seven students from Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School near Calgary.

What makes this tragedy all the more saddening is the young age of the avalanche victims. From all reports, they were great kids who had accomplished much in a very short time, excelling in sports, music, and drama while maintaining high academic standing and a zest for life.

As parents, Laureen and I were saddened to learn that the lives of these bright young people with such unlimited potential were cut so short. On behalf of the Canadian Alliance, we offer our sincere and heartfelt condolences to their families and friends. Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time.

Also, may we express our sincere thanks to the rescue workers who prevented additional loss of life and also to the teachers and support workers who continue to help those affected come to terms with this terrible tragedy.

[Iraq, January 30th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, this party is never going to sit proudly on the fence like that party seems to.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair is scheduled to travel to the United States shortly to meet with President Bush. World leaders are meeting face to face to determine the most appropriate next steps for dealing with Saddam Hussein.

Is Prime Minister Blair stopping in to see the Prime Minister in Canada? Is our Prime Minister travelling to meet President Bush? Is Canada on the inside of any of these discussions?

[Iraq, January 30th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, no Canadian can be proud of a position he or she cannot even figure out.

Today's declaration from the European leaders also warns about the lack of resolve of certain UN Security Council members. It states:

We cannot allow a dictator to systematically violate those Resolutions. If they are not complied with, the Security Council will lose its credibility and world peace will suffer as a result.

Does the government share these views and has it conveyed them on behalf of Canada to all wavering members of the Security Council?

[Iraq, January 30th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, today a group of European nations, including Italy, Poland, Hungary, Spain, Portugal, Denmark and the Czech Republic, has issued a declaration declaring support for the multilateral coalition of nations led by Australia, Britain and the United States pursuing the unconditional disarmament of Saddam Hussein. Their declaration states:

We must remain united in insisting that his regime is disarmed. The solidarity, cohesion and determination of the international community are our best hope of achieving this peacefully. Our strength lies in unity.

Is the government now prepared to unequivocally join and support this coalition of nations?