House of Commons -- Friday, December 7, 2007
Hon. Hedy Fry (Vancouver Centre, Liberal):
Mr. Speaker, not only has the government failed to bring down wait times, instead the health minister has created a new wait category for cancer and cardiovascular patients who need critical diagnostic testing and treatment.
Because he had no contingency plan in place for an emergency supply of radioisotopes, we now have a national medical emergency.
The Canadian Society of Nuclear Medicine says this crisis could affect almost 50,000 patients a month.
When will the minister admit that his incompetence has put patients' lives at risk?
Hon. Hedy Fry (Vancouver Centre, Liberal):
Mr. Speaker, we are looking into emergency supplies. I do not think the minister seems to grasp the urgency of the situation.
This is a national medical crisis. Lives have been put at risk.
Now will the government immediately commit the necessary funds to allow repairs to continue around the clock, 24-7, until the reactor is fixed?
