CANADA House of Commons Debates VOLUME 141 Ï NUMBER 042 Ï 1st SESSION Ï 39th PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Friday, June 16, 2006 Speaker: The Honourable Peter Milliken CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) Also available on the Parliament of Canada Web Site at the following address: http://www.parl.gc.ca 2483 HOUSE OF COMMONS Friday, June 16, 2006 The House met at 10 a.m. with study and consultation. The prominent reports included: “Learning from SARS—Renewal of Public Health in Canada, A report of the National Advisory Committee on SARS and Public Health October 2003”, which is also known as the Naylor report, and Prayers “Reforming Health Protection and Promotion in Canada: Time to Act”. In September 2004 the Public Health Agency of Canada was GOVERNMENT ORDERS established by an order in council, and the Public Health Agency of Ï (1005) Canada received control of the former population and public health [English] branch of Health Canada. After extensive study and consultation, the Liberal government developed and introduced on November 16, PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY OF CANADA ACT 2005 Bill C-75, an act respecting the establishment of the Public Health Agency of Canada and amending certain acts. The House resumed from June 13 consideration of the motion that Bill C-5, An Act respecting the establishment of the Public The bill would provide the legislative basis for the Public Health Health Agency of Canada and amending certain Acts, be read the Agency of Canada. Once Parliament was dissolved the bill third time and passed. consequently died and was removed from the order paper. Ms. Nancy Karetak-Lindell (Nunavut, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I will be splitting my time with the member for Cape Breton—Canso. Fortunately for Canadians, the Conservative government has decided to re-introduce the Liberal bill on April 24, 2006 in this new It is with great pleasure that I rise in the House today to speak to session as Bill C-5. Bill C-5, an act respecting the establishment of the Public Health Agency of Canada and amending certain acts. I rise not only as the The preamble states: elected member for Nunavut but also as the associate public health —the Government of Canada wishes to take public health measures...foster collaboration within the field of public health and to coordinate federal policies critic for the official opposition. and programs in the area of public health...promote cooperation and consulta- tion...foster cooperation in that field with foreign governments and international As our world becomes more globalized, and as our population organizations...creation of a public health agency for Canada and the appointment ages, we are faced with challenges, as a country, to public health of a Chief Public Health Officer will contribute to federal efforts to identify and which we must address. reduce public health risk factors and to support national readiness for public health threats— The necessity to strengthen coordination in public health across the country was largely highlighted by the inadequacies of the public Coordination and cooperation seem to be a clear path to a strong health response to the 2003 outbreak of severe acute respiratory public health system, resilient enough to contain or deter outbreaks syndrome, commonly known as SARS. It was a most painful and that could cause our economy billions of dollars in both health care difficult lesson and certainly required a focused and strategic effort expenditures and lost tourism dollars. to address the shortcomings for the future security of all Canadians. In addition to such financial consequences, the social costs are I would like to quote from a document which is available on the immeasurable. This was proven during the SARS crisis in the greater website of the Public Health Agency of Canada. It is Dr. Naylor's Toronto area as regular days were disrupted with fear and insecurity. response to Minister McLellan on June 15, 2003, as the chair for the Bill C-5 indicates that the Minister of Health will preside over the advisory committee on SARS and public health. He wrote: Public Health Agency of Canada. To this end, the agency will be Thus, we believe the focus of governments should be first and foremost on directly accountable to the Canadian people through federal building the necessary public health infrastructure and clinical capacity to contain legislation. infectious outbreaks. Local containment and rapid contract tracing is the key both to prevention of exportation and limiting the impact of importation of infectious diseases. Furthermore, the bill makes amendments to the Department of Health Act and the Quarantine Act. As a country, our demands are We are reminded of the crisis that we grappled with as a nation in always changing. It is important, therefore, to meet such changing 2003. This did indeed affect us as a nation, as a threat to our public demands with appropriate and adequate legislation and amendments health. It required action and the then Liberal government responded if need be. 2484 COMMONS DEBATES June 16, 2006 Government Orders These amendments are an example of meeting such changes in our I would like to ask the member, is she confident that the aboriginal country. However, in my support of Bill C-5, it is of serious concern health issues, which have been discussed often in this place, have an to me that the bill does not have specific statutory responses for first appropriate attention directed to them through this new Public Health nations and Inuit population health issues, including crisis response. Agency of Canada? In respect to the Garden Hill First Nation, which my colleague Ms. Nancy Karetak-Lindell: Mr. Speaker, my understanding is from Churchill represents, and the tuberculosis epidemic that is that currently there is no obligation for the federal government. It has being experienced since March, the first two active cases of TB have no statutory obligation to deal with aboriginal health through the spread to more than two dozen active cases. This outbreak has been Public Health Agency of Canada. That is something that worries me the source of social disruption. a little in that we would have a separate way of treating the health of aboriginal Canadians. Although public health for first nations Inuit is currently administered through the FNIHB of Health Canada, Bill C-5 should My personal preference would be to have a more coordinated be an important bridge and lead on the issue of public health for first effort that is in line with the rest of the country. I cannot speak so nations and Inuit. It would work in collaboration with the aboriginal much for first nations, but I know for my riding, where we are under people, as they are the population at risk due to chronic housing a territorial public government, that our department of health is part shortages, mould in homes, and inadequate access to health care and of the initiatives that pertain in the country. health care systems. I might add that even in my own riding of I know my colleague from Churchill was very worried about this Nunavut, we are certainly experiencing cases of TB that have been particular part of the bill. We discussed it and felt that there has to be increasing in numbers and that is very alarming to us. a more coordinated effort so that these types of services for the bands, especially the health services for the people who live on Through Bill C-5, the federal government also has legislative reserves, does not fall through the cracks and that there is a authority for specific client groups, including the RCMP, the military coordinated national effort along with what we are doing in the and federal institutions. These are areas of direct responsibility and Public Health Agency of Canada. each of these client groups requires specific consideration and responsibility for optimum service. Ï (1015) [Translation] The bill sets out the framework for coordination, promotion and protection of public health for Canadians, and will support continued Ms. Nicole Demers (Laval, BQ): Mr. Speaker, I listened collaboration and coordination with provincial, territorial and first carefully to and greatly appreciated my colleague's speech, and I nation governments, along with Inuit governments as well. share her concerns about the first nations and the Inuit community. Canadians want to be healthy. They do not want to feel at risk of I would like to know when, if ever, in her opinion, the government diseases such as SARS, avian flu, TB, or any other diseases for that took concrete action to respond to the needs of the first nations and matter. the Inuit without having to be seriously prodded into action by parliamentarians. Also, does she believe that her concerns will be put Canadians want to live free and healthy, and quite frankly, at ease by the government investing more heavily in structures? Canadians deserve it. Bill C-5 provides substantial assistance in this [English] particular regard and this bill addresses the challenges and obstacles that are blind to our provincial jurisdictions and international Ms. Nancy Karetak-Lindell: Mr. Speaker, again, I cannot speak borders. for first nations issues, but in my discussions with different people on different issues, whether it be on health, education or housing, we I encourage all members of this House to join in solidarity and need to understand that unless the people are involved in the process work toward the benefit of the health of our people, the health of our of developing criteria, developing curricula, and developing policies nation. for their own people, they will not feel that they have ownership of the measures that are in place, and they will not work.