Power of the PM.With a majority government, a Canadian prime minister or premier faces very few checks on his or her power. The 1997 debate over hepatitis C Hepatitis C Definition Hepatitis C is a form of liver inflammation that causes primarily a long-lasting (chronic) disease. Acute (newly developed) hepatitis C is rarely observed as the early disease is generally quite mild. compensation is a good example of how the system works. About 60,000 Canadians were infected, through blood transfusions blood transfusion, transfer of blood from one person to another, or from one animal to another of the same species. Transfusions are performed to replace a substantial loss of blood and as supportive treatment in certain diseases and blood disorders. , with the sometimes fatal liver disease Liver Disease Definition Liver disease is a general term for any damage that reduces the functioning of the liver. Description The liver is a large, solid organ located in the upper right-hand side of the abdomen. . A test was available as early as 1982 to screen out most of the infected blood. However, the Red Cross, which supplied all blood for transfusions, chose not to use that test until 1990. Insiders say Health Minister Allan Rock ''This article is about the Canadian statesman. For the similarly-named places in Massachusetts, see Allen Rock. Allan Michael Rock, PC, BA , LL.B (born August 30, 1947) is a lawyer and former Canadian politician and diplomat. wanted to pay compensation to all hepatitis C victims who became infected after 1982. However, Prime Minister Jean Chretien was in favour of compensating only those who contracted the disease after 1986. Because of his power to hire and fire cabinet ministers, Mr. Chretien's view was supported by Cabinet. Many Liberal backbenchers publicly supported compensation for everyone, among them MP Carolyn Bennett Carolyn A. Bennett, PC, MP, MD (born December 20, 1950 in Toronto, Ontario) is the Member of Parliament for the riding of St. Paul's, a constituency located in Toronto, Canada. She is a member of the Liberal Party of Canada, and was formerly a candidate for its leadership. . Again, the Prime Minister put on the pressure. When the compensation issue came up for a vote in the House of Commons House of Commons: see Parliament. every last Liberal MP voted in favour of Mr. Chretien's plan. Carolyn Bennett was in tears as she cast her vote, and another is said to have asked after leaving the House, "Is it now that we throw up?" But, Ottawa came in for some intense criticism from Canadians. Most people felt that excluding the 1982 to 1986 victims was mean-spirited. Public opinion, loudly expressed, forced Mr. Chretien to re-think his position and make a more generous offer. |
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