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Libby urges the Health Minister to reinstate funding for the Federal Tobacco Control Strategy
Libby urges the Health Minister to reinstate funding for the Federal Tobacco Control Strategy
Libby urges the Health Minister to reinstate funding for the Federal Tobacco Control Strategy
May 3, 2012
Hon. Leona Aglukkaq
Minister of Health
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0A6
Dear Minister,
I am writing to express my concerns over the recent cuts to the Federal Tobacco Control Strategy (FTCS). The FTCS is the largest anti-tobacco program run by Health Canada. By reducing the FTCS budget by $15 million annually, your government is cutting more than a third of the strategy’s annual funding, putting the health and well being of Canadians at risk.
Since its inception in 2001, the FTCS has helped curb smoking across the country. Between 1999 and 2010, FTCS initiatives helped reduce adult smoking rates from 25 per cent to 17 per cent. In this same period of time, smoking rates amongst Canada’s youth aged 15 to 19 decreased from 28 per cent to 12 per cent. The federal government has the obligation to help reduce the number of Canadians who use tobacco products. As over 5 million Canadians still smoke, and over 50 per cent of long-term regular smokers die of smoking related diseases, it is reckless to cut FTCS funding.
Tobacco remains the leading preventable cause of disease and death in Canada. Whereas your government is attempting to cut costs by reducing the FTCS budget by $15 million, direct health care costs from tobacco are more than $4.4 billion per year. This strategy saves the government money, saves the lives of Canadians, and institutes safeguards that promote the health and well-being of young Canadians.
Canada has always been a world leader in tobacco control. The funding cuts to the Federal Tobacco Control Strategy will ultimately deter the progress this program has achieved, placing Canadians at risk of developing detrimental diseases such as cancer. I urge you to reinstate full funding to Health Canada’s Federal Tobacco Control Strategy.
Thank you for your consideration in this matter, and I look forward to your reply.
Sincerely,
Libby Davies, MP
Vancouver East
NDP Health Critic
Libby’s statement on the Anniversary of Medicare
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Rainbow day on the Hill arcs over Parliament – Libby Davies
Rainbow day on the Hill arcs over Parliament
A joint program between youth diversity initiative Jer’s Vision and New Democrat MP Dany Morin’s office, the first annual Rainbow Day on the Hill allowed six queer high school students to experience the inner workings of our political system and view the full spectrum of what it’s like to be a queer politician working on behalf of Canadians…In addition to Morin, participating MPs included Libby Davies, Randall Garrison, Craig Scott, Phillip Toone and Scott Brison. With the exception of Brison, all of the openly gay MPs represent the NDP, while Brison wears Liberal red…Nepean High School student Hannah Collins, 17, shadowed Davies and cited Davies’ pragmatic approach to critical issues as the most crucial bit of counsel she received.
The original article, Rainbow day on the Hill arcs over Parliament was published on May 2, 2012 in Xtra News. Author(s): Bradley Turcotte
Libby urges the Conservative government to expand compassionate care benefits for parents
Libby urges the Conservative government to expand compassionate care benefits for parents
Libby urges the Conservative government to expand compassionate care benefits for parents
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House of Commons
HANSARD
April 30, 2012
Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP):
Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives keep making cuts they were never honest about before, like the decision to cut the OAS. Now they are backing away from the commitment that they made to the parents of gravely ill children.
The Conservatives brag about having acted to help parents of crime victims, so why are they failing the parents of children who have fallen victim to illness?
The Conservatives promised to help. When will they fulfill that promise and why was it not in the budget?
Hon. Diane Finley (Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, CPC):
Mr. Speaker, our government does want to help families when one of their members is facing a serious illness. That is why we expanded eligibility for compassionate care benefits under EI. As well, we did make a promise in last year’s election campaign that we would be bringing forward assistance for families who have gravely ill children. We intend to keep that promise and we will be doing it soon.
Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP):
Mr. Speaker, we have not seen anything on this so-called promise the Conservatives have made.
In fact, at her own press conference today the minister refused to answer questions about it because apparently it does not fit with her message of the day.
No wonder the Conservative government has a well-earned award for secrecy from The Canadian Association of Journalists.
I ask again. Why will the Conservatives not level with Canadians who want straightforward information, or is their PM-approved message of the day as much information as they think Canadians deserve?