The Victims of "registered" Poisons will finally get help

Canadians With Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) And Fibromyalgia (FM) Will Be Protected And Will Have Their Needs Met When C-416 Passes Into Law

[ Pesticide Poisoning and Kids ] * [ Symptoms of Pesticide Poisoning ]
[ MEMORIAL TO VICTIM of PESTICIDE POISONING ]

Subject:   The Victims of "registered" Poisons will finally get a
little medical help---
Date:        Wed, 16 Feb 2000 11:48:36 -0500
From:        Stephen Tvedten <steve@getipm.com>
Organization:     Get Set Inc. (www.getipm.com)

To:     Lyndon Hawkins <hawkins@empm.cdpr.ca.gov>
          State of California, Department of Pesticide Regulation
          Integrated Pest Management

Lyndon, I thought you might like to read an e-mail I just received regarding environmental illness:

Date: Tue., 8 Feb. 2000 15:17:53 -0800
From: Bethezda
The Environmental Illness Society of Canada
La société canadienne pour les sensibilités environnementales
536 Dovercourt Avenue Ottawa ON K2A 0T9
Tel: (613) 728-9493 Fax: (613) 728-1757 http://www.eisc.ca

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

2000 02 08

HISTORICAL ENVIRONMENTAL ILLNESS (EI) BILL PASSES FIRST READING IN THE PARLIAMENT OF CANADA

Canadians With Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) And Fibromyalgia (FM) Will Be Protected And Will Have Their Needs Met When C-416 Passes Into Law

"I have the distinguished honour of passing along to you today, the following confirmation" wrote Judith Spence, CEO of the Environmental Illness Society of Canada to those on the Society's email list.: "M.P.Greg Thompson introduced the first ever 'EI' Bill today and in so doing, he has earned his place in history".

This legislation is the result of collaborative efforts between the EISC and M.P. Thompson's office. The EISC had consulted with members of the Society's Emerging Illnesses Coalition regarding issues they felt needed to be addressed. The Bill was over a year in the making.

"Thanks to MP Thompson, people with MCS-CFS-FM can venture to feel more secure because 2000 is definitely going to be THE YEAR that they will experience, first hand, the benefits that come with the recognition and acceptance of their illnesses" affirmed Spence. Only through recognition and acceptance by the public and moreover by the medical profession will people with MCS-CFS-FM have lasting peace of mind. "Our Time Has Truly Come" says Spence, "is the motto of the Environmental Illness Society of Canada and today we witnessed a confirmation of this reality in the Parliament of Canada."

The Bill now has several perilous stages to get through and its passage into law is not a 'sure thing'. M.P. Thompson's Bill C-416 will, in the short term, raise awareness about the illness and will draw attention to the current deficiencies in the medical and social support systems.

It is the lack of recognition and protection that has prevented persons with EI from being able to access appropriate, timely medical tests and treatments and, from being able to access the same support services that Canadians with other disabilities are able to rely on.

"Canadians with MCS-CFS-FM had not been provided 'health by 2000' as Health and Welfare Canada had promised fourteen years ago when it signed the 1986 Ottawa Charter for Health promotion" admonishes Spence.

Medical, socio-ecological and socio-economic issues faced by persons with MCS-CFS-FM will be the focus of the EISC-initiated first International Conference on Environmental Illness, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia scheduled for Ottawa in November 17-19 of this year. Doctors, scientists, patients, industry and advocates from all over will come to Ottawa to share their views and to discuss pressing issues through Roundtable Talks and workshops.

"MP Thompson's legislation will go a long way to correcting many of the deficiencies in the system and will set the standard for protective legislation for persons with MCS-CFS-FM all around the world" comments Spence. "I am optimistic and know that we have turned the corner. The Canadian medical establishment will now begin meeting the needs of Canadians with MCS-CFS-FM."

New Brunswick is, to-date, the only province that routinely provides appropriate, timely medical tests and treatments through its provincial Medicare system. M.P. Thompson hails from. New Brunswick and has long been an advocate for the EI both in his constituency and as P.C. Health Critic, for all Canadians.

Those wishing to thank M.P. Greg Thompson can do so via the e-mail: thompg@parl.gc.ca or, at the address listed below.

For more information contact Judith Spence at (613) 728-9493 or by the web: http://www.eisc.ca

Mr. Greg Thompson, M.P. Charlotte, New Brunswick, Room 421, West Block House of Commons Ottawa, ON K1A 0A9 Canada (613) 995-5550 Fax: (613) 995-5226.

The EISC's Policy Committee asks that MCS-CFS-FM-GWS sufferers and their friends and families copy (c.c.) their e-mail on both Bill C-416 (the EI Bill) and Bill C-417 (the Patients' Bill of Rights) to the EISC: eisc@eisc.ca

 

The Hansard of the proceedings in the House of Commons where MP Thompson's Bill was read for the first time is available at the Government of Canada website:

http://www.parl.gc.ca/36/2/parlbus/chambus/house/debates/043_2000-02-07/han

0

43_1605-e.htm#LINK216 The text of Bill C-416 is found at: http://www.parl.gc.ca/cgi-bin/36/pb_prb.pl?e

 

Bill C-416 The 'EI' Bill: From the February 7, 2000 Hansard DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ACT Mr. Greg Thompson (New Brunswick Southwest, PC) moved for leave to introduce Bill C-416, an act to amend the Department of Health Act (environmental illnesses, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia and multiple chemical sensitivity).

He said: Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce a bill to amend the Department of Health Act with respect to environmental illnesses, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia and multiple chemical sensitivity.

This bill would amend the Department of Health Act to provide that the Minister of Health be responsible for conducting medical and scientific research to establish the existence of environmental illnesses, to study the causes and effects of environmental illnesses and designated illnesses, and to prevent, diagnose and adequately treat environmental illnesses and designated illnesses.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed) M.P. Thompson's Bill is found in the February 7, 2000 Hansard:

http://www.parl.gc.ca/36/2/parlbus/chambus/house/debates/043_2000-02-07/han

0

43_1605-e.htm#LINK216

* * *

Another Bill introduced yesterday by M.P. Thompson, Bill C-417, 'The Patients' Bill of Rights' was also read into the record and appears at:

http://www.parl.gc.ca/36/2/parlbus/chambus/house/debates/043_2000-02-07/han

0

43_1605-e.htm#LINK216

The Patients' Bill of Rights provides for the rights of persons with MCS-CFS-FM. The EISC had collaborated with MP Thompson's office in drafting the Bill. The EISC had consulted with member organizations of the EISC's Emerging Illnesses Coalition.

 

BILL C-417 THE PATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS

Mr. Greg Thompson (New Brunswick Southwest, PC) moved for leave to introduce Bill C-417, an act to establish the rights of patients in relation to health, treatment and records.

He said: Mr. Speaker, if we can believe the experts in Canada, health care is still the number one concern, despite all of the other issues. Therefore, I am pleased to introduce a patients' bill of rights, an act to establish the rights of patients in relation to health, treatment and records.

The purpose of this enactment is to establish the right of Canadians to consistent quality health services across Canada, personal rights in respect of the receipt of health services and the corresponding responsibilities which patients have in dealing with health professionals. The Minister of Health is required to seek the commitment of the provinces to adopt and protect these rights and responsibilities.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

Well Lyndon, the list of environmental illness victims (and their rights) is now obviously growing -- when will you stop creating more innocent victims? Hopefully "someone" in "our" government will eventually decide to protect our rights, and not routinely POISON us for profit in the first place.

Respectfully, Stephen L. Tvedten