Hon. Carolyn Bennett (St. Paul’s, Lib.):
Mr. Speaker,
Yesterday the Minister of Health finally, but ineffectively, answered a question on the E. coli outbreak, saying that the Public Health Agency was working with the provinces and the territories.
The National Advisory Committee on SARS stated that the Chief Public Health Officer should serve as the leading national voice for public health, particularly in outbreaks and other health emergencies.
Such language is echoed in the Public Health Agency of Canada Act.
Where is the trusted voice of public health, and why is the minister not allowing the Public Health Agency of Canada to speak directly to Canadians about the safety of their food?
Hon. Gerry Ritz (Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board, CPC):
Mr. Speaker,
We have done exactly that. CFIA began working on these issues on September 4. On September 6, Public Health Agency of Canada became involved. We have had a number of technical briefings over the last two or three weeks. Public Health has been at every one and taken part.
Hon. Carolyn Bennett (St. Paul’s, Lib.):
Mr. Speaker,
E. coli has been in the food chain for over a month, but Question Period after Question Period the Minister of Health sits in her chair playing on her iPad.
I have been asked if the minister has been playing Angry Birds, and to let her know that Canadians are angrier than Angry Birds.
She has refused to tell worried Canadians the facts about this ongoing public health crisis.
Will the minister call a televised press conference and allow the Public Health Agency of Canada to speak directly to Canadians?
Hon. Gerry Ritz (Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board, CPC):
Mr. Speaker,
I do not know where the member has been for the last three or four weeks. We have been doing exactly that.
There have been televised, technical briefings. The media has been invited. We actually tried to put one together for the opposition members, and instead of taking advantage of that, they decided to have a silly emergency debate that went nowhere.
We will certainly have another technical briefing, should they decide to do one.
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