Kristine Etten wrote about the lack of prenatal care for Ontario women. She stated: ``Women are being turned away by obstetricians-.When the time comes for them to deliver there will be no pediatrician available if there are any complications with the baby. If this had been the case seven months ago, I have to wonder if my daughter would be with me today''.
I was also moved by a letter from Mrs. Maria Pankratz, 89 years old, who wrote last month about the extra burden being placed on seniors for medication costs. She stated: ``I just don't know what to do. I have willingly fended for myself all my life till I no longer could. I've been very thankful for what my country has done for me. But now I'm scared and sick. What now?''
Cuts to health care are not trivial. They hurt those who are most in need of help. They hurt seniors and children who are the innocent victims of Ontario's attack on health care.
I appeal to the province of Ontario to come to its senses. Do not follow in the footsteps of Alberta and cut, cut, cut only to back pedal and return money to a wounded health care system after people have been hurt and jobs have been lost.
There are some things we must support and demand. One of those things is proper health care.
In 1994, I brought the problem of female genital mutilation to the attention of this House and I note with pleasure that my efforts have brought some measure of results. This practice was again criticized at the Beijing conference, because it threatens the physical and psychological well-being of women.
Ms. Vissandjée's research points strongly to the importance of striking a balance between the needs of women and those of men in the area of research. We can only hope that this research will provide some help to girls and women.
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The statistics are staggering, with teen pregnancies doubling in the last 10 years alone. One-fifth of girls under the age of 20 become pregnant and 58 per cent give birth. One-third of these girls drop out of high school and the children of these mothers often have higher educational and social problems. The costs to our social system is over $7 billion a year.
The future is often quite bleak for the mothers and children who often live a life of poverty, and yet this is an avoidable tragedy. To stem the tide schools need effective sex education programs, and sexual active teens need safe, effective measures of birth control.
Prevention is the best medicine. I implore the Minister of Health to work with his provincial counterparts to develop intelligent, safe strategies to address this terrible tragedy among us.
It is essential these rights be included in Bill C-32 to avoid unduly complicating the operations of small regional radio stations on a small budget. This is often the only way to provide good service to their evening and weekend listeners.
Furthermore, time-shifting rights do not deprive artists of their royalties, and broadcasters are prepared to accept measures to protect against the abuse of these rights. I hope that common sense will prevail throughout the legislative process of Bill C-32.
[English]
Health Canada has recognized a revised chronic fatigue syndrome case definition for research purposes. This is thanks to the 10,000 people in Ontario and the 5,000 from other provinces who have signed petitions presented to the House in May.
It is also thanks to the efforts of the ME/FM Action Network. Health Canada can now take the step to boost further awareness by formally announcing the recognition of ME/FM. Parliament should move forward by setting up a health subcommittee to study and hear witnesses on ME/FM.
These diseases affect over 100,000 Canadians. Many times healthy, vital people are reduced to an inability of coping. We can no longer afford to be robbed of so many productive citizens by a disease for which we do not know the cause and we do not know the cure.
Let us remedy this situation. We must act now to raise awareness, continue research and find a cure.
Canadians insist that we maintain a single tier system equally accessible to all Canadians based on need and not on one's ability to pay. This government agrees with this fundamental principle of fairness. Provincial premiers who think they can ignore the national health care act and the wishes of the Canadian people had better think again.
It is pathetic to see irresponsible right wing premiers slashing health services only to restore funding later because they admit they got carried away.
Canadians treasure our health care system but they are worried about its future. This Liberal government can and will ensure that the system is improved and maintained for the good health of all Canadians; one national system accessible to all Canadians on the basis of need and not on their ability to pay.
Also, medicare provides competitive advantages to companies operating in Canada. These advantages include lower employee benefit costs-I would like the Reform to please listen to the House-a mobile workforce that can respond to where the jobs are, the elimination of health care as a major source of labour-management disputes and work stoppages and a health work force.
[Translation]
Our health system is the envy of the entire world. It must be maintained at all cost. This member and this government will not make cuts in the style of Mike Harris and then cut taxes for the well to do. I would willingly give back the $600 that Mr. Harris would have me save in order to insure the health of my parents, children and grandchildren.
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[English]
This member and this government will not compromise with the health and welfare-
Since 1983, the Quebec government has developed a clear policy that shows respect for aboriginal people by adopting 15 basic principles to guide the government in negotiating with them. These principles include the recognition of Quebec's aboriginal peoples as distinct nations.
This recognition is a necessary first step to any serious negotiation, especially respectful negotiations, with the aboriginal peoples of Canada. Quebec granted them this recognition 10 years ago. What is the federal government waiting for to follow suit?
[English]
At the Press Club tonight, Financial Times columnist and CFRB radio talk show personality Michael Coren will square off against the hon. member for Kingston and the Islands. We are all looking forward to a spirited discussion on the viability of social conservatism.
Special thanks to the Laissez Faire Club of Ottawa for co-ordinating tonight's event. Laissez Faire has also offered to sponsor a Reform-Liberal debate on crime and punishment. On behalf of Reform I accept the challenge.
Through you, Mr. Speaker, I put the challenge to the justice minister. Meet Reform at the Press Club, 6 p.m. on March 3. Come out and defend your government's soft on crime record. Explain to Canadians why killers like Clifford Olson and Karla Homolka are eligible for early parole. Explain why our prisons have become comfort cottages. Tell Canadians why sexual predators are running lose and why violent youth crimes continue to surge upward.
Reform, on the other hand, will present our fresh start plan to get-
The Speaker: The hon. member for Rosedale.
For over 80 years Women's College Hospital has been dedicated to the advancing concerns of women's health in an atmosphere unlike any other hospital. It has enabled us to craft some innovative responses to women's health concerns that have received global recognition.
It is becoming increasingly apparent that the health of women in all countries, particularly in the developing world, is of extreme importance since women are largely responsible for the education, health and safety of children and the overall management of the family.
For this reason, Women's College Hospital has been very active in the worldwide promotion of women's health. In fact, the World Health Organization is currently considering an application submitted by the hospital for it to become one of the World Health Organization's collaborating centres.
I urge all members of the House to join me in supporting this application and in wishing Women's College Hospital continued success.
Now, in addition to high gas prices, we are seeing skyrocketing propane prices across western and northern Canada. Propane has increased by more than 130 per cent in Manitoba alone. This means an added major expense for farmers trying to dry their wet crops, homeowners paying higher costs to heat their homes and business people who use propane.
Meanwhile the Liberals in Ottawa continue to ignore the effects of energy price hikes. They continue to spin myths about consumers having a choice in buying their fuel from a handful of multinational oil companies that all raise prices at the same time, gouging Canadians equally.
Propane is the fuel of choice for many who are trying to be environmentally friendly but it is now being priced out of reach unjustifiably.
I am now calling on the Liberal government to take action to defend consumers, farmers and business people from propane price gouging by the big oil companies.
Several constituents from my riding, namely Helen Heeney, Jay Cody, Donna Kumagai, Judy Rogers, Doug Sneyd and Merle Larsson Totten, were instrumental in the publication of a book entitled Life Before Medicare.
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The book was launched on November 21 during an intergenerational ceremony with the Minister of Health in attendance. Through actual life experiences of contributors, the book conveys a sense of sacrifices required of Canadians before universality in health care services became a reality.
[Translation]
Free health services are the sign that a society supports all its members regardless of their financial means. We cannot afford anything less either for ourselves or for future generations. Let us all be courageous and clear-headed enough to oppose those who want free health services to disappear.
[English]
The third of 10 children, Dalton McGuinty comes from a political family. His father, Dalton McGuinty Sr., served the Ottawa South riding as a Liberal for many years. Dalton McGuinty successfully served his constituents for six years as MPP for Ottawa South.
Under his leadership the Liberal Party of Ontario will get rid of the slash and burn Tories of Ontario. Dalton has a greater sensitivity to the social and economic needs of the people and will bring much integrity and stability to Ontario politics.
Mr. Speaker, I am sure that you and everyone in this Chamber will join me-
Each new victory is the result of concerted efforts both nationally and internationally. This government hardly contributes to these efforts, as the departure of our most brilliant researchers and the lack of funding for long term research jeopardize the future.
That is why I urge the federal government to maintain, better yet to increase, funding for the National AIDS Strategy and particularly for AIDS research. We must carry on and press ahead. Most importantly, the necessary steps must be taken to fight this disease so as to keep the hope of a definitive victory alive.
People believe these hikes represent the gouging of a captive market by the big gas companies. Propane is a byproduct of natural gas production, yet we have not seen a similar doubling of natural gas prices.
Producers say there is a shortage because of a fire in one plant in Mexico. Is this credible? With no adequate explanation or justification from the industry, consumers view these increases as extortion. Reform believes in the operation of a free market but it is free only when there is no price fixing and when anti-combines legislation is effectively enforced.
The existing procedure has not been changed in over 20 years and no longer provides a true picture of the new labour market reality. As we all know, the labour market has undergone significant changes in recent years. New categories of employment and employees were created, and these major transformations are thought to be just the beginning.
The decision made by Statistics Canada will have a very positive impact on all Canadian workers. The various categories of unemployed people will be better defined and more precise. The various levels of government and other stakeholders in the labour sector will be better equipped to develop more focused services and strategies.
This statement is inaccurate and we have a duty to correct it, so that the public is not misled.
Since we took office, federal government program expenditures have been cut by 12 per cent, while transfers to the provinces have only been reduced by 8.6 per cent. Even though Quebec only
accounts for about 25 per cent of Canada's population, it still continues to receive 31 per cent of all federal transfers.
[English]
In fact, Quebec pays roughly $29 billion in taxes yet receives over $40 billion annually from the federal government.