Statement made on 09 May 2012 by Senator Roméo Dallaire
Hon. Roméo Antonius Dallaire:
Honourable senators, my question is for the Leader of the Government in the Senate. Last week, I asked a question about Ste. Anne's Hospital, which will be transferred to the Government of Quebec.
The leader promised me answers on some very specific aspects of this issue. There have been developments since then, and I would like her to take them into account when she examines this issue in order to provide a response.
The Quebec health minister, Mr. Bolduc, has said that there are fewer and fewer veterans, but that there are more and more seniors who need specialized care.
That means that veterans do not become seniors. That means that veterans will remain veterans and that civilian seniors need care.
Modern-day veterans were offended and outraged by the minister's statement because he did not specify that he was talking about veterans of World War II and the Korean War.
In her discussion and response, could the leader tell us whether Minister Blaney is going to talk to his friend in Quebec, Minister Bolduc, and tell him that, although the number of veterans of World War II and the Korean War may be decreasing, the overall number of veterans is not growing smaller. On the contrary, Canada has almost 600,000 veterans. It is rather essential that a minister be able to make this distinction given the importance of this issue.
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