Dear Constituents,

I hope that you and your family had a safe and enjoyable holiday season. The time has passed quickly and there are a number of matters that I wanted to bring to your attention in this report.

Our health system continues to be the number one priority of Canadians and much work is in process to ensure its long-term sustainability. In the following pages, I have summarized some of those key activities and I encourage you to provide your input on the future of health care. (Cover picture is with Anne McLellan, the new Minister of Health who had been the Justice Minister).

As part of my work on the Transport Committee, we have been looking at airline and airport safety issues. National security is very important and we want to restore the confidence of the traveling public. In this regard, much discussion has come up about citizenship and passports and I have written a small section about the importance of being a Canadian citizen.

This past year, the subject of stem cell research has become a controversial matter around the world. I am very interested in this subject and I have just written a book - "The Ethics and Science of Stem Cells" - which is intended to educate the public on the issue. In this report, I have provided some details and information on how you can get the book. Your views would be appreciated.

Also included in this report is a feature on seniors and the Internet and one on energy conservation tips. I hope you find this report informative and, as always, I welcome your comments and suggestions.

Sincerely,
Paul Szabo

Our public health care system is a key defining element of who we are. Canadians have worked hard to build it and we have the responsibility to preserve it for the future. The Government of Canada is guided by the spirit and principles of the Canada Health Act and its primary role is to enforce those principles as the provinces and territories delivery healthcare to Canadians.

The 5 principles of the Canada Health Act are as follows:

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION - The provincial/territorial health plans must be administered and operated on a non-profit basis, be run by provincial/territorial governments and be subject to audits of their accounts and financial transactions.

COMPREHENSIVENESS - The health plan must pay for all medically necessary health services provided by hospitals and medical practitioners according to provincial/territorial law. Medically necessary services do not always include payment for such costs as prescription drugs, optometry services, physiotherapy and home care, and private ward accommodation in hospitals.

UNIVERSALITY - All insured persons of the provinces or territories are entitled to public health insurance coverage provided by each provincial or territorial plan on uniform terms and conditions.

PORTABILITY - Coverage under public health insurance must be maintained when a resident moves or travels within Canada or travels outside the country.

ACCESSIBILITY - Everyone must have "reasonable access" to all medically necessary hospital and physician services unimpeded by financial or other barriers.

We have become accustomed to a health system that offers a decent standard of care to everyone regardless of economic or social status. Many see it as our most important social institution which holds our country together.

In the year 2000, the federal government spent $95 billion to support health care. In addition, we spend about $30 billion a year through private plans or out-of-pocket expenses to cover prescription drugs, dental and vision care, long-term care and home care. Despite this level of spending, the system has been struggling to deliver the kind of health services Canadians expect and demand.

In September 2000, the federal and provincial governments reached an important agreement to improve primary health care, to improve the management of pharmaceuticals and to enhance the accountability to Canadians on how health budgets are spent. All parties also reaffirmed their support for the principles of the Canada Health Act.

In April 2001, the government also appointed a Royal Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada which is being headed up by former premier Roy Romanow. The work was split into two phases. The first phase was fact finding which was completed on February 6, 2002 with the presentation of an interim report "Shape the Future of Health Care". That report is available on the internet at www.healthcarecommission.ca or it can be ordered by calling 1-800-635-7943.

The Commission found that the views expressed on how to address the challenges confronting health care coalesced around four major perspectives as follows:

MORE PUBLIC INVESTMENT - Some suggest that the solution to the problems is to put in more money. It is argued that in adding more resources, including doctors, nurses and equipment will address the problems. The additional funds would have to come from increased taxes and/or by reallocating funds from other government programs.

SHARE COSTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES - The second perspective is that our health system will collapse under the weight of unsustainable costs due to new technologies, new health problems, new expectations and improper use. To address the costs, some suggest that Canadians bear a greater responsibility through options such as co-payment fees, user fees, taxable benefits or private insurance.

INCREASED PRIVATE CHOICE - The third perspective is to allow Canadians increased choice by allowing them access to private providers of health care services. This the two-tier model which would allow the public to access private for profit providers if they pay through there own resources or insurance. It is argued that this would relieve pressure on the public system.

REORGANIZE SERVICE DELIVERY - The fourth perspective favours the fundamental reforming of the delivery of health care with the ultimate objective of integrating al services in a seamless manner. Advocates argue that the traditional fee-for-service system for paying doctors is an outmoded concept which often leads to inappropriate and more expensive care.

The objective of the Commission is to accept and review on its merits any proposed recommendation to strengthen the quality, effectiveness and continued viability of Canada's Health Care System and to place it on a sustainable footing. The perspectives above are the main approaches which will be discussed with Canadians as phase two of the study. You are encouraged to provide your views to the Commission who will provide their final report to the Government in November 2002.

Those born in Canada are automatically Canadian citizens whereas those who have come to Canada retain their former citizenship or can chose to become a Canadian citizen. All residents of Canada enjoy the protection of our Charter of Rights and Freedoms and are covered by our health care and social services programs. Some may think there is no real reason to become a Canadian citizen but there are some important points to consider as follows:

• Only citizens can vote in Federal and Provincial elections or run for elected office in those elections. The quality of elected representatives and government that we have is determined by citizens and therefore it is an important right as well as a serious responsibility to be valued and exercised. Citizenship entitles you to have a say on how Canada is governed and on shaping the future of our country.
• Immigrants who do not become Canadian citizens and who are convicted of a criminal offence can be deported from Canada regardless of how long they had lived in Canada.
• Citizens are entitled to have a Canadian Passport which is one of the most respected throughout the world. Canada is highly regarded internationally and when you travel with a Canadian Passport, you enjoy the integrity and respect that Canada has earned around the world.

Each year, hundreds of thousands of people from around the world apply to come to Canada to make a better life for themselves and their families. It normally takes over 2 years to be assessed and large numbers of applicants are not successful. Those who have been fortunate enough to be accepted know how long the process took and how difficult it is to immigrate to Canada. To subsequently become a citizen is the easy part.

To become a Canadian citizen, you must:

• ·be a permanent resident of Canada
  
• be at least 18 years of age
  
• be able to read and write simple English or French or be able to understand spoken English or French
  
• have lived within Canada at least three years out of the four years right before the day you apply
  
• learn about Canada from the free publication "A Look At Canada" and be able to answer questions on that information. Children under 18 years of age do not write the citizenship test.

All adults and children must have an application form and the fee is $200 for adults and $100 for children. The process may take several months and once your application is accepted you will receive the book "A Look At Canada".

Once you have met all the requirements for citizenship, those between the ages of 18 and 59 will be scheduled for a test. Those under 18 or over 59 years of age are not required to take a test. You may be given a written test but in many cases it is just an interview. The purpose is to establish whether you know enough English or French and whether you know the basic information in the booklet "A Look At Canada".

Once you have met all the requirements, you will be sent a notice of your citizenship ceremony. At that ceremony, you will take the oath of citizenship and receive a citizenship card and certificate. I have been at many of these citizenship ceremonies and these are wonderful family events celebrating the great honour of becoming a Canadian citizen.

If you are not a citizen yet, it is never too late. If you have any questions, you can call a toll free number 1-888-242-2100. In my office, I also have copies of the booklets "How To Become a Canadian Citizen" and "A Look At Canada" for your information.

In April 2001, the Government prepared draft legislation concerning Reproductive Technologies and Related Research and asked the Health Committee to hold public hearings. Those hearings concluded in December and a report to the Minister of Health was tabled in the House of Commons. The Bill proposes to ban or control a number of activities including human cloning and genetic alteration. The report raised a number of concerns about commercialization of technologies, surrogacy for profit, in vitro fertilization and patenting of discoveries.

One of the most controversial issues was the ethical question of permitting embryonic stem cell research which uses stem cells from embryos but kills the embryo. They also are subject to rejection by the immune system and would require anti-rejection drugs for life and are very difficult to control. Alternatively, stem cells also occur naturally in our bodies and evidence is growing that they can be just as effective in treating illness and disease. Since they come from the patient, there is no problem with immune rejection and there is no ethical controversy. It should also be noted that the United States has decided not to fund research involving the destruction of embryos and the Province of Quebec has totally banned embryonic stem cell research. These are but a few of the considerations in the stem cell debate.

It is not the role of researchers to determine the ethical limits of their work. That responsibility lies with the public and legislators but very few Canadians know very much about the subject. In addition, research has been advancing so rapidly that the ethically unacceptable is coming into conflict with the scientifically possible. Therefore, we need a sound regulatory environment to ensure that our ethical and social values are respected by research.

I believe that this issue is very important and that Canadians need to be consulted. To inform MP's and the public at large, I have written a book entitled "The Ethics and Science of Stem Cells". For your information, I have reproduced the Introduction to the book on the next two pages.

Introduction to "The Ethics and Science of Stem Cells"

Not long ago, the term "genetic engineering" was known only in the mystical research laboratories of the science community. Today, its use is widespread in the context of the gateway to changing virtually every aspect of human life. The frenzy among researchers is testament to that potential and to why so many have characterized this risk-laden quest for virtual immortality as the "Race of the Century."

A day does not go by without another story about the hope and the potential of stem cells. We have been told that if stem cells reach only their lowest expectations, they will revolutionize health science more than any other development in our history. However, the public and the news media have an exaggerated and inaccurate perception of where biomedicine is, and where it is going.

Most believe that stem cells are already being used to cure a host of ills including Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, diabetes and spinal cord injuries. That simply is not the case. On January 15, 2002, the Harvard Medical School announced that their latest research had shown that stem cells relieved symptoms of Parkinson's disease in rats, but cautioned that they could also cause tumours. If further experiments are successful, it is expected that there could be human trials in about five years.

If we are still five years away from human trials, and who knows how long before therapies are approved for use, why has medical science raised expectations with all the hype and hope rhetoric? If anything, it has distracted attention away from some of the more controversial aspects of this research. Stem cell research has raised some important social, moral and ethical questions which have not received the same intensity of exposure and discussion. Although that could elevate public apprehension, as has occurred with genetically modified foods, it would clearly put the onus on government to provide full information and the necessary assurances.

If we pursue genetic engineering, will we be able to control it to ensure that it is safe and not exploited in unintended ways? Tragedies such as thalidomide and its generation of limbless children remind us that biomedical research is not infallible. Should we not expect potential break-throughs to be approached with due caution and the highest ethical standards under the scrutiny of a credible regulatory framework?

Illness, disease and death are parts of life that impact a society in many ways. Our challenge is therefore to find a balance between the ability of medical science to enhance our lives with the need to protect our individual and collective interests.

The objective of this book is to provide a foundation of information on what has arguably become the debate of the millennium. It looks at the complexities of procreation; explains the science of stem cells; highlights what research has been done to date; and presents the related moral and ethical concerns. It also summarizes U.S. and other international developments and examines Canada's long road to legislation.

Now legislatures and the public must take up the debate to determine the ethical limits to research and the application of genetic knowledge to the delivery of public health.

End of Introduction

The Minister of Health has 150 days to table a response to the Health Committee Report and it will undoubtedly result in a wide-ranging debate on where we go from here. I have publicly supported a moratorium on embryonic stem cell research until medical science has exhausted the potential of adult stem cells. Many researchers believe that adult stem cells can treat every practical health application necessary.

My book has been given to every Parliamentarian and has been widely circulated to the media, health professionals and Provincial Health authorities. It is also available to the public, in both official languages, from my office and can be viewed my Web site www.paulszabo.com. Your input would be appreciated.

During your life, some of your priorities stay the same and others change over time. We all value our health care system and we want to be sure that it is there for us when we need it. After health care, students, young adults, families and seniors all have slightly different priorities and lifestyles. We now live longer and we have longer retirements than ever before. These days, the golden years also seem to start at age 50. Becoming a senior may be the end of some activities but it is also the beginning of a whole new set of challenges and opportunities.

Travel, relaxing pastimes, changes in general health, retirement finances, living arrangements and grand parenting are just a few thoughts that come to mind. Fortunately, there are many well-established groups and organizations dedicated to the interests of seniors. The internet has also become a great source of information and assistance. Here are just a few sites which may be of interest:

• www.fifty-plus.net - general site
  
• www.carp.ca - Canadian Association of Retired Persons
  
• www.generation.com - New York based site
  
• www.senior.com - where older is no longer old
  
• www.seniors-r-us.net - want ads and computer support
  
• www.elderhostel.org - educational trips
  
• www.seniornet.org - computer education
  
• www.aarp.org - US general site
  
• www.womensage.com - all about aging issues for women
  
• www.seniorwomen.com - magazine links
  
• www.elderweb.com - elder care issues

Most of these sites also have other suggested sites which may be of interest. Seniors have become one of the largest user groups of the internet and email and it is never too late to start.

ENERGY CONSERVATION TIPS

Gases in our atmosphere such as water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide act like a greenhouse to keep the sun's heat in and make our planet livable. Without this natural greenhouse effect, the average temperature on earth would be 18 degrees below zero - too cold to support life.

However, too many greenhouse gases can be harmful. As we burn more and more fossil fuels to power our cars, keep our industries humming and make our homes more comfortable, we are increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. These gases are thickening the blanket that insulates the Earth, causing average temperatures to rise. In addition to causing more severe weather events, this global warming is making air pollution worse. Top climate scientists have concluded that most of the warming over the last 50 years is attributable to human activity. If we really care about the quality of our air and water, we all can be part of the solution by following a few tips:

• Always turn off lights and other appliances when they are not in use. As energy cost rise, you can save money and help the environment at the same time.
  
• Adjust your home heating for different times of the day. If you are relaxing around the house 21 degrees celsius is recommended. Drop that to 20 degrees when you are working around the house, 18 degrees when you are sleeping and 16 degrees when you are away from home.
  
• Wash your laundry in cold water. It does just as good a job and saves a considerable amount of energy.
  
• Take short showers instead of baths. A five-minute shower uses about half as much water as a bath.
  
• Replace incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient compact fluorescents which are four times more efficient and last about eight times as long.
  
• If you cannot find compact fluorescents, control the intensity of your incandescents with dimmer switches. A bulb dimmed by 25% uses 10% less energy.
  
• Use curtains or blinds to control the heat. Open them up to let the sun in and close them at night to reduce heat loss through the windows.
  
• Use low-flow showerheads and save as much as 15% of your home's hot water usage. Aerators on sink faucets can also reduce the water used for hand washing by about 40%.
  
• When possible, use small appliances such as microwaves or toaster ovens rather than using the range.
  
• Take clothes out of the dryer promptly and fold or hang them up to reduce or prevent wrinkling. Your iron uses a lot of energy.

Needlessly idling our cars also has an impact on air quality.

• Today's modern car engines only need about 30 seconds of idling even on winter days before you drive away. The best way to warm up a car is to drive it. Also avoid using remote car starters.
  
• Excessive idling can actually damage your engine components. Turn off your car if you are parked for more than 10 seconds. Component wear caused by frequent restarting is estimated to cost about $10 per year but this would be recovered several times over in fuel savings from reduced idling. More than 10 seconds of idling uses more fuel than restarting the engine.

Studies suggest that Canadians voluntarily idle their vehicles for a combined total of 75 million minutes a day or the equivalent of one car idling for about 144 years. On average, we idle our cars about 5 to 10 minutes each day. If every driver of a light duty vehicle in Canada avoided idling for just 5 minutes per day, we would save 1.6 million litres of fuel and would prevent more than 3,800 tonnes of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, from entering the atmosphere. Small things really can make a world of difference.

OTTAWA OFFICE MISSISSAUGA OFFICE

Room 175 1684 Lakeshore Road West

Confederation Building Unit 20

House of Commons Mississauga, Ontario

Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6 L5J 1J5

Telephone: 613-992-4848 905-822-2111

Fax: 613-996-3267 905-822-2115

Email: szabop@parl.gc.ca szabop1@parl.gc.ca

Visit us on the Internet: www.paulszabo.com

Special personal messages of congratulations may be requested for those Birthdays and Anniversaries listed below. As these events are very important occasions, you may want to request a message, when applicable, from Her Majesty The Queen, the Governor General and the Prime Minister of Canada.

Greetings from Her Majesty the Queen are available for 100th Birthdays and every 5th year thereafter, and 60th Wedding Anniversaries and every 5th year thereafter. Please note that copies of birth certificates and marriage certificates are required by Government House for messages from The Queen.

Birthdays

75th and over - message from the Prime Minister

90th - 99th - message from the Governor General

100th and over - message from Her Majesty The Queen (copy of birth certificate required)

Wedding Anniversaries

25th and over - message from the Prime Minister

50th - 59th - message from the Governor General

60th and over - message from Her Majesty The Queen (copy of marriage certificate required)

Please complete this form to inform us of the occasion and return it postage free to my Constituency Office.

Visit us on the Internet: www.paulszabo.com

Mississauga Office Hours: Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Appointments can be scheduled during office hours or other arrangements can be made by calling the office.

Constituents may write to any Member of Parliament or Cabinet Minister postage free. Simply address your envelope to the particular Member, c/o House of Commons, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6. Your views and suggestions are important.