Open Letter from Hélène Laverdière on the Defeat of Bill C-398
Open Letter from Hélène Laverdière on the Defeat of Bill C-398
November 30, 2012
Dear friends,
This past Wednesday night, Bill C-398, the Medicines for All bill, was voted down in the House of Commons by seven votes, 148 – 141. It was a very disappointing result after the many years of effort we have all undertaken to reform Canada's Access to Medicines Regime (CAMR). As you know, one child dies every three seconds in the world for want of quality medicines.
Friends, I want to give you insight into what happened during our campaign, especially in the last few weeks, and what led to Wednesday's result.
As you know, Bill C-398's previous version was sponsored by Paul Dewar and passed in the House of Commons with a healthy majority in March 2011 before dying on the Order Paper in the Senate when the election was called.
After the election, Jack Layton asked me to take over the fight for Medicines for All. I did so with great excitement and hope. We knew that with a Conservative majority, getting this bill through Parliament would be more difficult than the last time, but we also believed that this life-saving legislation was too important not to fight for.
STATEMENT BY HÉLÈNE LAVERDIÈRE ON OPPOSITION TO BILL C-398
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 28, 2012
STATEMENT BY HÉLÈNE LAVERDIÈRE ON OPPOSITION TO BILL C-398
TO FACILITATE EXPORT OF MEDICATION
Today, the Conservative Party refused to listen to a majority of Canadians who support
Bill C-398 which seeks to save lives by facilitating the export of medications
to the developing world.
We thank the organizations that have driven the campaign for Bill C-398 over the last year,
especially the Grandmothers Advocacy Network and the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal
Network.
Bill C-398 is supported by over 80 international NGOs and over 250 civil society
organizations in Canada, by faith leaders, and by 80% of Canadians.
We thank colleagues on both sides of the House who voted with New Democrats to fix
Canada's Access to Medicines Regime (CAMR). Tonight, the Conservatives missed
an opportunity to honour Canada's 2004 promise to developing countries and to
listen to the will of Canadians.
The NDP is always ready to work in good faith. Yet in the last few weeks we witnessed a
backroom campaign of misinformation coming from the Conservative leadership –
misinformation that ultimately led to tonight's result.
By voting against this bill, the Conservatives refused to put partisanship aside for the
sake of saving lives. New Democrats will continue to fight until Canada's Access
to Medicines Regime is reformed and Canada will finally be able to fulfill its
promises to the developing world.
– 30 –
Leading Principles of Community Living Insurance Ontario
November 22, 2012
Almost everything we see around us, from houses, cars and ships to spaceships and television programs are secured by the insurance policy. The insurance industry is variable and has many different types, from which ordinary Ontario residents are mainly faced with only six ones:
Health insurance
Vehicles' Insurance
Insurance of houses, apartments and property
Life Insurance
Insurance in case of Disability
Community Living Insurance Ontario
The insurance industry in Canada is developed very well and touches the life of every Canadian. This is largely due to the fact that insurance is mandatory in almost every sphere of life. The second reason is that upon the occurrence of certain tragic circumstances insurance helps to cope with the cost, which for the majority of Canadians are simply unrealistic.
The insurance of life and health in Canada is performed by a variety of companies with a deep and respected history. For instance, here one should remember the organization Canada Life that has been performing its insurance function on the market for almost 150 years! A variety of companies have started to flourish in Ontario suggesting a number of attractive choices on community living insurance.
Before digging into the history of community living insurance Ontario, one should keep in mind that Canada has a long and impressive history of insurance. In Canada, the responsibility for the regulation of insurance is shared between the federal authorities and the authorities of individual regions.
Thus, a new wave of community living insurance has gained much popularity in Ontario from that time. However, the approach to the insurance has been incredibly changed from omnipresent / common to more personalized/individualized one. There are a lot of examples of individual insurance cases available in Ontario nowadays, so you may choose among the opportunities.
The leading facilities of community living insurance in Ontario have much in common with governmental and private support from certain organizations and private individuals. In this case, we mean both financial and moral support for the individuals who are eager to use the advantages of community living insurance Ontario. For instance, if you are living in Israeli community within the borders of Ontario, you will be supported with a plethora of both governmental and private community living insurance possibilities to make your life more convenient.
Watch Hélène Laverdière's Final Speech on Bill C-398!
November 21, 2012 - Hélène Laverdière closed the debate at Second Reading on Bill C-398. The vote at Second Reading is scheduled for November 28, 2012.
Watch here:
Ms. Hélène Laverdière (Laurier-Sainte-Marie, NDP):
Mr. Speaker, in the last few months I have heard from many stakeholders about Bill C-398. I have met with brand name and generic pharmaceutical companies. I have met with NGOs. I have met with so many Canadians who want to see this bill passed. In the last week, alone, I have received over 2,800 emails of support in my office. The grandmothers have collected over 23,000 signatures in support of this bill through their cross-Canada petitions.
Bill C-398 has the support of more than 80 international NGOs, including Médecins sans Frontières, Apostolic Faith Mission in Lesotho, the Church of Scotland, and the U.K.'s Stop AIDS Campaign. Within Canada, there are over 250 NGOs and community groups in support of this, including World Vision, Results Canada, AQOCI, Care Canada, UNICEF, Oxfam, and organizations, such as the City of Prince Albert and the HIV Network of Edmonton. We have the support of faith leaders across the country.
NDP pushes Conservatives to provide stable and adequate funding to CBC/Radio-Canada
November 16, 2012
With the CBC/Radio-Canada licence up for renewal at the CRTC next week, NDP Heritage Critic Pierre Nantel (Longueuil – Pierre-Boucher) is urging the Conservatives to live up to their commitment to provide stable and adequate funding to our public broadcaster.
"The last Conservative budget was disastrous for CBC/Radio-Canada. The cumulative effect of Liberal and Conservative cuts has greatly weakened the public broadcaster," says Nantel. "CBC/Radio-Canada is the flagship of Quebec and Canadian culture and Canadians value that. In order for CBC/Radio-Canada to continue this role and fulfil its mandate, Conservatives must stop the cuts and provide it with stable and adequate funding. Only then can it guarantee the national and local programming Canadians are looking for. "
In this regard, Nantel tabled a motion in the House last June urging the government to recognize CBC/Radio-Canada's crucial role in developing original Canadian content in French and English, supporting the arts and culture industry and offering content that reflects each region. The motion called on the government to reverse its decision to cut CBC/Radio-Canada's budget and ensure it receives stable and adequate funding. The MP's motion received support from numerous members of the industry.
"The Conservatives are putting our public broadcaster on the chopping block for purely ideological reasons, the same as they did with science and the environment. Funding must be stable and unaffected by partisanship. The NDP will continue to oppose these cuts and defend CBC/Radio-Canada, which is a Canadian emblem."
New Democrats also launched a petition to support the public broadcaster: www.pierrenantel.ndp.ca/cbc.
Hélène Laverdière's Speech on C-398
Speech at Second Reading
House of Commons, October 16, 2012
