World Aids Day  Mr. Speaker, the number one cause of death in men aged 19 to 44 in the major metropolitan areas of Canada is AIDS. Today is World AIDS Day. The World Health Organization's theme this year is shared rights and responsibilities. This theme highlights the need for equality and solidarity in global responses to AIDS.

Seniors' Safety Week  Mr. Speaker, this week is Seniors' Safety Week. While growing old is as inevitable as taxes we know that seniors should remain active and stay in their own homes for as long as possible. It is integral to their good health. Ironically the home is one of the least safe places for seniors.

Department Of Human Resources Development Act  Madam Speaker, I too should like to speak to Bill C-96. The bill is simply a housekeeping bill that brings together a number of departments under one roof. Yet it has inflamed the emotions of both opposition parties. Their criticisms are so completely unjustified that I must wonder if in making the accusations both parties are really speaking to their not so hidden agenda.

Blood Supply System  Mr. Speaker, with regard to the safety of blood and with regard to what the Krever inquiry has suggested so far, we have responded to Justice Krever's interim report and have acted on every recommendation within our jurisdiction. Unfortunately we cannot react on recommendations that have nothing to do with our jurisdiction.

Blood Supply System  Mr. Speaker, I do not think it is up to the Ministry of Health to respond to the witnesses who present to the Krever commission. It is up to us to respond to what the Krever commission itself says. The Krever commission has, I repeat, said that the safety of the blood system in Canada is as safe as any blood system in the world can ever hope to be.

Blood Supply  Mr. Speaker, it is not only the Minister of Health who said the system is safe; it actually came out of Mr. Krever himself. Those are his words on his safety audit. I believe the hon. member is speaking about another audit. All these audits are tools the Krever commission is using to come up with its final report.

Blood Supply  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to answer that question, but it is really rather sad that such an important subject as blood should be dealt with in such a flippant manner. The Krever inquiry has been set up to look at the safety of blood in the 1980s. That report has not yet come down.

National Housing Act  Mr. Speaker, I thought I answered that question before. Perhaps I will have to try a different way of getting my message across. I want to quickly say that in the riding of the member who asked me the first question, 5,580 constituents have in fact purchased homes using CMHC funds.

National Housing Act  Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to answer that question. The very asking of the question, which seems to be the one repetitive question the Reform Party asks in spite of the answers being given, tells me that members of the third party are really not in touch with the people of Canada.

National Housing Act  If the hon. member will allow me to do so, I will. I would like to answer the question. Reform members are not in touch with the people of Canada. Seventy-four per cent of Canadians say that the program is important because it assists them in buying homes. We are not talking about an elite group which thinks that only people with a lot of money should be able to own houses.

National Housing Act  Mr. Speaker, I am really pleased to have the opportunity to speak in support of Bill C-108, an act to amend the National Housing Act. I am pleased for two reasons, one because it is timely. Yesterday in my riding, I went to a conference of the BCNPHA which is a group of diverse peoples.

Department Of Health Act  Mr. Speaker, I want to comment on the hon. member's statement. Much has been said about paragraph 4.(2)(a) and that it in fact has begun to encroach on provincial jurisdiction. I would like to refer the hon. member to clause 12, which states: Nothing in this Act or the regulations authorizes the Minister or any officer or employee of the Department to exercise any jurisdiction or control over any health authority operating under the laws of any province.

Department Of Health Act  Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his comments. The hon. member spoke about the health forum. He said the health forum is encroaching on provincial jurisdictions. The health forum is a dialogue by Canadians who form the forum and who were chosen from every province. They have an ongoing dialogue with Canadians to see Canadians' vision for health system as we move into the 21st century.

Department Of Health Act  Mr. Speaker, I understand the hon. member's comment. It is like the chicken and the egg syndrome. According to the member's vision of health it would be a super ministry encompassing all the ministries that will in turn look to the Department of Health to make decisions. Obviously that is not possible but it is an interesting concept.

Department Of Health Act  Mr. Speaker, I appreciated the hon. member's comments, some of which were well thought out. I appreciate her supporting the bill. The most important recurring theme I heard the hon. member refer to was that this new act will weaken the Ministry of Health in that the Ministry of Health will have to collaborate and co-operate with other departments.