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Libby questions the Conservative government's cuts to OAS and health care
CONSERVATIVES IGNORED DRUG SHORTAGE WARNINGS: NDP
CONSERVATIVES IGNORED DRUG SHORTAGE WARNINGS: NDP
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MARCH 27, 2012
With hospitals now facing critical shortages, NDP asks why government did not act
OTTAWA – A string of documents show the Conservative government received a slew of warnings of a looming nation-wide drug shortage but repeatedly dismissed expert advice.
“A survey done by the Canadian Pharmacists’ Association in 2010 showed that 81 per cent of pharmacists had trouble finding medicine to fill prescriptions on their last shift,” said New Democrat Health critic Libby Davies. “Pharmacists get advance notice of shortages only 30 per cent of the time. It’s the recipe for a perfect storm, yet the Conservative decided not to act. As a result, Canadians were put at risk.”
The Canadian Anaesthesiologists Society was concerned enough to send a letter to the Minister of Health detailing a shortage risk for basic anaesthetics.
“While penothol was being discontinued, the fallback, propofol, was at high risk of being in short supply,” said Deputy Health critic Anne Minh-Thu Quach. “Penothol and propofol are to anaesthesia what aspirin and Tylenol are to a headache. Without them, you’re not going to get the job done.”
Despite the warnings, Conservatives refused to act.
“Medical professionals were worried because they knew a drug shortage could have very severe consequences for Canadians.” said Davies. “New Democrats are calling on the government to finally take responsibility for identifying and managing drug shortages. We must act now to make sure this never happens again.”
Libby’s statement on the Ontario prostitution ruling
Libby’s statement on the Ontario prostitution ruling
Libby’s statement on the Ontario prostitution ruling
Today the Court of Appeal for Ontario struck down the ban on keeping a common bawdy house and also called for revised legislation on living off the avails of prostitution.
The decision today, confirms yet again, that the status quo is not acceptable and that the current laws put sex workers at risk. The ruling is in line with the 2006 findings of the Parliamentary Sub-Committee on Solicitation Laws, showing that current laws are hurting sex workers, and the status quo is not acceptable. The Ontario ruling recognizes the role that Canada’s harmful and marginalizing prostitution laws played in the Pickton murders and the disappearance and murder of upwards of 300 other women, mostly sex workers, across Canada. The court has found it is unacceptable for sex workers to have to put themselves in these highly risky situations. The Court struck down the law surrounding bawdy houses and in addition, stated that the laws concerning living off the avails of prostitution need to be rewritten, to apply only to “circumstances of exploitation”.
The federal government cannot simply sweep this issue under the carpet, nor should they initiate costly and lengthy legal appeals. I urge the government to accept the legitimacy of the Court of Appeal’s decision. We need immediate action to protect the safety and rights of sex workers. Therefore, Parliament itself should seize this issue and review the laws in question – in consultation with sex workers – and determine what needs to be done to protect the rights and safety of sex workers, as well as the wider public.
I applaud the ground breaking work of the three complainants, and Professor Alan Young, for bringing forward the original case to the Ontario courts, and for drawing attention to the inherent rights of sex workers.
To read a brief recap of the Ontario Court of Appeal’s Decision, check out Pivot Legal Society excellent summary: http://pivotlegal.org/pivot-points/blog/ontario-sex-work-judgement-in-489-words
To read the Parliamentary Sub-Committee on Solicitation Laws report (December 2006): http://www.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?DocId=2599932&Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=39&Ses=1
Libby speaks in support of eradicating TB worldwide
Libby speaks in support of eradicating TB worldwide
Libby speaks in support of eradicating TB worldwide
Check out Libby speaking at Stop TB Canada’s press conference on World TB Day (Libby’s comments can be found at 11:00, but if you want to learn more about the valuable work of Stop TB Canada, stay tuned for the whole video!):
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Libby will continue to work on this issue in the coming months with fellow MPs and Senators who sit on the HIV/AIDS and TB (HAT) Caucus with her. The group meets regularly to explore ways that MPs and Senators can work together in the fight against the global epidemic of HIV/AIDS and TB.
Welcome to my new site!
Welcome to my new site!
Dear Friends,
Welcome to my newly redesigned website! After many months of hard work, I am happy to unveil the new site, and encourage you to check it out.
Keep an eye out for:
- Our new design, which makes the site easier to navigate and search – try out our ‘search’ tool and click on any content title to find tables of archived posts.
- Find links to my Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, and Flickr accounts, and follow my Twitter feed and top NDP News on this site. You can also sign up for RSS Feeds via email (just look to your right!)
- Our interactive features and a rotating photo slideshow devoted to the beautiful people and places of East Van!
Speaking of which, we are always looking for photos to add to our ever-expanding slideshow.
I would like to also take this opportunity to thank our designer, Continuum Design, for making the new site so fantastic!
I hope you enjoy exploring our new site. As always, don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions or comments.
Libby