May 5, 1998
(Health)

The following statement was issued today by Joan Marie Aylward, Minister of Health. It was also read in the House of Assembly:

Last November, I made a statement in this House about the Krever Report. In particular, I expressed the sorrow and regret of this government to Canadians who sustained injury due to the contamination of the blood supply.

That position has not changed today. I said previously that to proceed with a compensation package or assistance plan it would require considerable financial resources and that it would be beyond the fiscal capacity of this province to act alone on such a recommendation. I said that since we have a national blood system, it is imperative that the issue be reviewed collectively. I sought an early meeting with my counterparts at the earliest convenience. General agreement was reached by Health Ministers representing all political parties regarding financial assistance to people who contracted Hepatitis C from blood between 1986 and 1990. This agreement was subsequently announced in late March.

Yesterday, and without prior notice of changes to our agreement, I was asked to respond to comments by Premier Harris of Ontario. The announcement by the Government of Ontario, that it is prepared to share financial assistance to people who contracted Hepatitis C from blood prior to 1986, will result in a review of the current federal/provincial/territorial agreement which is still in place.

I spoke with the federal Health Minister, the Honourable Allan Rock, this morning and asked that a meeting of federal/provincial/territorial Health Ministers be convened at the earliest possible date to discuss this issue. I also spoke late yesterday with the chair of the Provincial/Territorial Ministers' Group, the Honourable Clay Serby of Saskatchewan.

It is my view that ministers need to discuss this matter as soon as possible. Meanwhile, the current agreement for the 1986 to 1990 period is still in place from my perspective and also from the perspective of my federal colleague. I understand from Mr. Rock that he will be speaking on this issue later today.

As Ministers of Health, we concluded this agreement around the federal/provincial/territorial negotiating table. It has always been and continues to be my view, that this approach is the appropriate one for discussing any possible changes or concerns in terms of this important issue, which would involve all the province and territories and the federal government at the table.

We recognize that this is a national issue; that we have a national blood program; and that ministers and governments have a responsibility to take a national perspective on some issues in the interest of all Canadians.

1998 05 05 3:30 p.m.