Libby on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
Welfare Reform in BC
Welfare Reform in BC
Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP): Mr. Speaker, the former Finance Minister’s elimination of the Canada Assistance Plan has paved the way for the B.C. government to be the first province to impose time limits on social assistance. The 24-month rule will put tens of thousands into destitution and is being challenged today in B.C.
There is a clear federal responsibility here, through transfer payments and under the Constitution, to provide essential services to all Canadians.
I would ask the Finance Minister, will he make it clear to the B.C. government that these changes are unlawful and unjust and must be stopped now?
Hon. John Manley (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I believe that the matter which the Hon. Member has raised is something that lies within the exclusive jurisdiction of the province.
I think that, as we have seen over the last number of years, support to the provinces under CHST, for health care as well as for those other areas of provincial spending that are covered by the CHST, have increased and I expect that federal funding will continue to increase to the provinces for those purposes.
Conservative government must meet Canadians’ health needs
Conservative government must meet Canadians’ health needs
[[{“type”:”media”,”view_mode”:”media_large”,”fid”:”278″,”attributes”:{“alt”:””,”class”:”media-image”,”typeof”:”foaf:Image”}}]]
House of Commons
HANSARD
December 3, 2013
Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP):
Mr. Speaker, the Health Council of Canada has panned the Conservatives for their lack of leadership. It has pointed to their repeated failures to meet clear commitments on the health accords.
Last month, the College of Family Physicians released an equally damning report.
The minister has had months to review these important reports by leading experts.
Does the minister agree that improvements are urgently needed and what will she do, today, to uphold our public health care system to meet the needs of Canadians?
Hon. Rona Ambrose (Minister of Health, CPC):
Mr. Speaker, I have met with a number of those groups and, of course, many of those reports also say positive things. The reality is all of those stakeholders in the health care field that I met with work very hard. There are challenges. However, from the federal level, we are taking leadership to address many of these difficult challenges and working in partnership with provinces and territories. Of course, the funding issue has been settled with a record funding commitment which would reach $40 billion per year by the end of the decade and provide stability and predictability to the system – something that the provinces and territories, and all health stakeholders need.
Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP):
Mr. Speaker, a new poll shows that Canadians are concerned that their health care system will not be there for them in their old age.
By 2036, the number of Canadian seniors will have doubled. We need a health care system that would include home care, long-term care, palliative care, and affordable drug coverage that is accessible to seniors.
Why is the minister lagging so far behind on a national strategy to address seniors’ health?
Hon. Rona Ambrose (Minister of Health, CPC):
Mr. Speaker, I would be happy to address that. First, I would like to give kudos to my colleague, the Minister of State (Seniors), who is working diligently, in very targeted ways, on the issue of seniors. The Minister of Economic Development is also working on a great deal of measures related to housing. However, when it comes to seniors’ health, I can tell members that not only do we take it very seriously, we have met with the Canadian Medical Association, the Canadian Nurses Association, and frankly, all Canadian health care stakeholders that concern themselves with seniors and, most important, of course, the provinces and territories, to which we are transferring a record amount of funding to deal with these very difficult challenges.
Conservative government must meet Canadians' health needs
LAST CHANCE FOR CONSERVATIVES TO SUPPORT GLOBAL FUND
Medical marijuana patients deserve answers in privacy breach
Updates from Libby
Health Canada’s medical marijuana privacy breach slammed
Health Canada’s medical marijuana privacy breach slammed
The dad was just one of 40,000 people across Canada who received letters from Health Canada that identified they were part of the medical marijuana program. Deputy Health Minister George Da Pont has apologized for the privacy breach, writing that the department deeply regrets the administrative error…A spokesperson for the privacy commissioner said Thursday an investigation was underway. As of Friday morning the privacy commissioner had received 40 formal complaints about the letters. NDP health critic Libby Davies said it was shocking the envelopes went out in the general mail with the program identified. “It is a terrible breach of people’s privacy. I’m shocked,” Davies said. Davies said she doesn’t blame people for being skeptical about the government’s explanation it was an administrative error. “I am certainly going to pursue it. I want to find out how it happened. This is sensitive information for a lot of people,” she said.
The original article, Health Canada's medical marijuana privacy breach slammed was published on November 22, 2013 in The London Free Press. Author(s): John Miner
NDP CALLS FOR MANDATORY DISCLOSURE OF DRUG SHORTAGES
NDP CALLS FOR MANDATORY DISCLOSURE OF DRUG SHORTAGES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 19, 2013
OTTAWA —Drug shortages have become a major problem in Canada – and costly headache for provinces – but an NDP MP is proposing a bill that will address this problem.
“This legislation can provide health professionals with the crucial notification they need to plan treatment for their patients during drug shortages,” said NDP MP Djaouida Sellah (Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert).
“We cannot afford to stop a given medication overnight because of an unexpected drug shortage. Whether it’s medication for epilepsy, cancer treatment, or pain management, health professionals need time to plan a safe transition.”
Many health experts support the NDP’s initiative, including the College of Physicians – who have been recommending the government require drug companies to inform Health Canada of drug shortages and, according to the College, “are heartened to see our recommendations to the federal government reflected in Bill C-523.”
“Too often the health and treatment of Canadians is jeopardized by sudden unforeseen drug shortages,” said Sellah. “Sadly, the federal government has been unwilling to require mandatory disclosure from industry. My bill will address this gap.”