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news > PC Party Endorses Non-partisan call for Medicare for Autism Now! October 9 , 2008: PC Party Endorses Non-partisan call for Medicare for Autism Now!
A second Rally for Autism will take place in Bracebridge, Ontario, October 9th. Autism is reported to be a health care epidemic effecting one in every 150 children and one every 94 boys. Care for effected children can cost families as much as $80,000 per year. Effective, science-based treatment is available but is not being delivered by the provinces and the federal government is not exercising its responsibilities under the Canada Health Act and within its constitutional powers. The Medicare for Autism Now! Society launched its “Two Percent Solution” campaign aimed at influencing the electoral outcome in 14 targeted federal constituencies across the country . To garner the support of its members and those within their sphere of influence, candidates are asked to make an explicit and definitive commitment to support legislation that will amend the Canada Health Act to include science-based treatment of Autism under Medicare, if elected to the House of Commons on October 14, 2008. Medicare for Autism Now! Activist and parent, David Chan, said today, “I find it ironic that my Canadian son whose ancestors helped to form this country has been disenfranchised from the Medicare system by being denied medical treatment for his Autism”. David Chan’s son, Pearson, is a child with Autism and the greatgreat- grandson of the Honourable Samuel MacDonnell who was a member of the first two parliaments of Canada for Inverness, Nova Scotia, from 1867 to 1874. Politics as usual on health care is insufficient; that health care is an area of provincial jurisdiction is an inadequate excuse. Today, all levels of government are involved in health protection, promotion, regulation and delivery. Agreements with the provinces can be reached; the Canada Health Act can be amended; we must have Medicare for Autism Now! Progressive Canadians ask all Canadian parliamentarians to join with them, Senators Norman Atkins and Jim Munson, and MPs Peter Stoffer and Shawn Murphy, in supporting the “Medicare for Autism Now” campaign. For more information or to request an interview, please contact: |
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October 9, 2008, Newmarket, Ontario - The Progressive Canadian Party supports and is willing to endorse
the non-partisan “Medicare for Autism Now!” national campaign calling for policy change to make sciencebased
Autism treatment (ABA/IBI) available to all Canadians diagnosed with Autism, regardless of age or
where they live. “Political will, alone, will overcome the marginal constitutional barriers to support for
families and children victimized by Autism,” said Progressive Canadian Party spokesperson Brian Marlatt
following Saturday’s Rally for Autism in Surrey, BC, “Where the provincial governments have been slow
to act, the federal government must take the initiative; provincial jurisdiction is not a barrier to the power
to persuade or the will to amend the Canada Health Act in the interest of families and children; this
government’s firewall provincialism comes at a cost to the most vulnerable.”