The Krever Report

We welcome the report of the Krever Inquiry. Justice Horace Krever has done remarkable work and has made a lasting contribution to the health and safety of Canadians.

The tainted blood scandal devastated the lives of thousands of Canadians and raised very real and legitimate fears about the safety of the national blood system. No one could help but be moved by the plight of the victims.

We accept the conclusions contained in Justice Krever's report about the federal role in what happened. We accept those conclusions in their entirety and without reservation.

The federal government also accepts its share of the responsibility for past shortcomings in the system. We are sorry for all that has happened.

We will be providing a full response to the Report to Canadians as soon as possible.

We are fixing the blood system, and will continue to work along with our provincial and territorial and other partners to try to ensure that this will never happen again. Safety will be our paramount concern.

By following the course set by Justice Krever's Interim Report, Health Canada has played a key role in reforming the system by helping the provinces, territories, consumer and technical specialists focus together on the need for a better, more effective system.

As an immediate response to the Krever Report, we are announcing the creation of a Blood Safety Council, which will include members of from blood consumers groups, and the scientific and medical community. It will advise the government on blood safety matters.

We also announced the allocation on an ongoing basis of $13 million in new money to Health Canada to assist with blood regulatory and surveillance renewal.

In September 1997, an agreement was reached between the provinces and the federal government on a cost-sharing formula to fund the transition to a new national blood agency, Canadian Blood Services. The Agency will be operational in 1998.

It will operate at arm's length from government, be fully integrated, accountable, and have the flexibility to deal with emergencies and respond rapidly to emerging threats to the blood supply. With consumers at the table, the system will be open and transparent.

We encourage donors to continue giving blood, which is vital to the health of their fellow citizens.