Supply  Madam Speaker, I was a little disturbed by the last part of the hon. member's speech. He can correct me if I am wrong, but I understood the member to say that he would like to see national medicare disbanded and provinces deal with provinces in terms of issues such as portabilit

Dental Health Month  Mr. Speaker, I want members to notice that I am smiling today to remind the House that April is Dental Health Month in Canada. This month provides an opportunity for all Canadians to show off their teeth by sharing their smiles. I am proud to note that Canadians enjoy one of the

Infectious Diseases Protocol  Mr. Speaker, the hon. member should know that this government supports that process very much. It is very concerned with the health and protection of frontline workers such as firefighters. As a result, and because of that commitment, the government has assisted firefighters in

Supply  Madam Speaker, I am confused. I am confused by the motion because it talks about national standards as being things which are not desirable to Her Majesty's opposition. Yet last Thursday, on opposition day, the health critic for the opposition party, Mr. Daviault said: "In Quebe

Supply  Madam Speaker, I apologise. Another member of the opposition party said: "I think that there is not one Canadian or Quebecer who questions the importance and value of the five principles set out in the Canada Health Act". The hon. critic again said that the federal government s

Supply  Madam Speaker, the hon. member suggested that he does not understand why I would say this is a political agenda. It flies in the face of common sense. That is why I say there must be another agenda. Surely we are talking about creating a set of principles. As I said earlier, pri

Grandparent Year Act  Madam Speaker, I am delighted to speak today to Bill C-291, an act respecting a national year of the grandparent. I take the opportunity to speak on behalf of the government's commitment to Canada's grandparents. I have not yet had the fortune of becoming a grandparent. I guess

Grandparent Year Act  Madam Speaker, the gist of the hon. member's question is concerned about the issue of universality which actually has nothing to do with cost. Universality means that we are all eligible for health care services regardless of what is our status in terms of employability or wheth

Tobacco  Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for the question because it gives us a chance to ensure that everyone knows what the facts are in this issue. Epidemiology is a system of ensuring that the demographics and all things that make a disease occur are checked out. When we set abo

Canada Health Act  Mr. Speaker, this government said in the budget and the Minister of Finance has said repeatedly that the Canada Health Act is not negotiable. The hon. member is discussing funding of medicare. We know that many reputable studies have now shown that we spend more as a percentage

Mental Health Week  Mr. Speaker, mens sano in sano corporae. Everyone remembers the old saying, a healthy mind within a healthy body. Today I would like to reverse the phrase. Without a healthy mind the body will not thrive. That is why I inform the House that this week is Mental Health Week. Duri

Government Spending  Mr. Speaker, I think the hon. member has been the victim of misinformation. On the whole issue of the tobacco conference, the government has joined with other governments to give money to the International Development Research Centre looking at the issue of tobacco use in develo

Government Spending  Mr. Speaker, maybe I did not make my answer clear the first time. Health Canada and the government have not donated a single penny to the conference in Italy.

Health Insurance And Services  Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure today to speak to the motion of the hon. member for Surrey North. I have worked with her on the standing committee on health and have great respect for her thoughtfulness. The hon. member raised the issue of more flexibility for the provinces. The

Hearing Awareness Month  Mr. Speaker, you might agree that in your chair you are more often a listener than you are a speaker, but not all Canadians share the luxury of hearing as you do. May is Hearing Awareness Month and as such is an occasion to promote greater public understanding of Canadians who a