It should be a good news story. But instead it's a democratic nightmare.Large numbers of Canadians are flocking to advance polling stations across the country.Only to leave without casting their ballots because of the long lineups.Read more »
Continue readingTag: election 2015
Northern Reflections: His Best Laid Plans
https://twitter.com/ The polls are all over the place. But, if you go to political events — even Stephen Harper’s invitation only events —
Continue readingMontreal Simon: The Harper Regime and the Light in the Darkness
It was almost dark when I got back to the waterfront. A cold wind was whipping across the lake. But I could see the lights of the boat coming to pick me up.Just like with only ten days to go, I think I can see the light at the end of our
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Politics At Its Most Cynical
http://www.blazingcatfur.ca/ Did Stephen Harper make his comments about banning niqabs from the public service because he was drawn off script? David Krayden writes: First off, there is no room for improvisation in a Stephen Harper script. When cabinet ministers receive their speaking notes from the PMO for
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Are the Harper Cons Trying to Steal the Election Already?
Well we know how the Cons tried to steal the last election, and that most of the robocall gang got away.And we know Boss Harper and his mob.We know that if they are prepared to use naked bigotry to try to win an election, they are capable of ANYTHING.So call
Continue readingMontreal Simon: The Nightmare Campaign and My Day of Rage
I was going to write a post about young Canadians and the campaign to get them to vote. But like so many of them I was just too tired, after attacking the punching bag at the gym like I wanted to kill it.I had to, I was that angry. For this
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: What Does He Say In Private?
https://www.reddit.com/ The differences between the Liberals and the Conservatives are getting starker. Susan Delacourt writes: If this election is distilling down to a potentially ugly culture war in the final two weeks before the vote, much could rest on how Canadians feel about the people living around
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Conscientious Stupidity
https://www.pinterest.com/ Joe Oliver announced at the end of last week that the Canadian economy had grown by 0.3% in July. And he said he doubted we were ever in recession. Now his buddies are waiting to announce that the Trans Pacific Partnership has been signed. Another shiny bauble to
Continue readingThe Progressive Economics Forum: Election 2015: An Escape Hatch for the NDP?
In an earlier post, I sought to explain (not necessarily defend) the Mulcair team’s decision to run balanced budgets as an election campaign tactic to counter being branded by the Conservatives (and potentially the Liberals)as a profligate manager of the public purse. Whether or not this tactic is successful will
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: The Ugly Canadian
http://buckdogpolitics.blogspot.ca/ Give Tom Mulcair credit. He stuck to his guns last night on the question of niqabs. A native son, he is well aware of the xenophobic streak that runs through Quebec society — and which is occasionally fanned by
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Economy Or Security: That Is The Question
http://www.ctvnews.ca/ Stephen Harper tried to boil this election down to two issues: economy and security. The economy plank hasn’t worked so well form him, given the problems in the oil patch. So now he’s emphasizing security — and railing about niqabs. Michael Harris writes: According to senior sources in
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Stephen Harper and the Bigot Fires in Quebec
I warned long ago that if Stephen Harper was desperate enough he wouldn't hesitate to set this country on fire. I knew that when the niqab court decision dropped into his lucky lap, Harper and his Australian hitman Lynton Crosby would use it as a massive wedge issue to try
Continue readingMontreal Simon: How Lynton Crosby Brought Stephen Harper Back From the Dead
I must admit it is getting a bit grim out there. Fall has finally arrived, it's getting colder and darker, the skies over this ghastly Harperland are filled with flying monkeys.Stephen Harper is a frenzy urging them on to destroy his enemies, with his poisonous wedge issues. And of course this is
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Another Reason
http://enviroshare.info/ The Harper government hopes that concluding the TPP deal will be its October Surprise. Constitutional convention dictates that, in an election campaign, the sitting government becomes a caretaker government. But this government is contemptuous of all constitutional conventions. Scott Sinclair writes: This would not be the
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: Mr. Mulcair Will the NDP Negotiate A New Health Accord to Include ABA for Autism Under Medicare?
September 30, 2015
Thomas Mulcair
Leader of the Official Opposition
Dear Mr Mulcair
The Federal NDP has in the past been very helpful in addressing autism on a national level including efforts by Nova Scotia MP Peter Stoffer who worked with the late Fredericton Liberal MP Andy Scott to effect passage of a National Autism Strategy motion in the House of Commons albeit one which did not address autism treatment coverage under Medicare. In July 2014 I asked if the NDP would support a real National Autism Stragegy. I receivd the following positive response from your office:
Dear Mr. Doherty,
Thank you for writing. We appreciate hearing of your advocacy work on behalf of your son and all individuals living with autism spectrum disorders.
Please be assured that New Democrats are determined to help put the needs of Autistic children on the political map. The NDP supports the continuing efforts to create a National Autism Strategy, therefore ensuring that individuals would receive the highest level of care, regardless of which region of Canada they live in.
As you mentioned, NDP MP Glenn Thibeault is helping to provide leadership on this matter along with working to have the Canada Health Act amended to include Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) and Intensive Behavioural Intervention (IBI) as medically recognized treatments for individuals living with autism spectrum disorders. (http://glennthibeault.ndp.ca/post/thibeault-re-introduces-autism-legislation)
Going forward you can count on our team of New Democrat MPs to continue to speak out on this matter. It’s time for leadership that will move Canada forward.
Again, thank you for taking the time to be in touch.
All the best,
Office of Thomas Mulcair, MP (Outremont)
Leader of the Official Opposition
New Democratic Party of Canada
Here in Fredericton I asked candidates in the current election the following question as part of the Medicare for Autism Now!’s 1 in 68 campaign:
I was very pleased to receive the following excellent response to the One in 68 question from the Fredericton NDP candidate Sharon Scott-Levesque:
Hello Harold,
I wish to thank you for your message regarding the inclusion of Applied Behaviour Analysis in Medicare. As you have noted, this is an issue affecting a growing number of Canadian families, and I understand the high costs of treatment are of great concern.
As you know the Canada Health Act requires provinces to cover medically necessary services without naming any particular procedure. This means that the decision on what to cover has been left up to the provinces, creating a patchwork system where some provinces provide coverage for Applied Behavioural Analysis and others do not.
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I recognize that this disparity creates a hardship for families and myself and the NDP are interested in working with the provinces to see this disparity eliminated. This is definitely a subject we will raise with the provinces when we negotiate a new Health Accord.
I do support this change and hope we can work together in the future.
Regards,
Sharon Scott- Levesque RN
Fredericton NDP Candidate
Mr Mulcair, past NDP contributions have been helpful but the failure by the federal government to see that science based ABA/IBI treatment for autism is included under Medicare means that many autistid children have not received the training which could have helped improve the core deficits of their autism disorders.
NDP candidate Sharon Scott-Levesque’s statement of her support is much appreciated.
Mr. Mulcair, can you confirm that the NDP will commit to negotiating a new Health Accord with the provinces which will include science based ABA/IBI treatment for autism spectrum disorder uner Medicare?
Respectfully,
Harold Doherty
Fredericton, NB
Facing Autism in New Brunswick: Mr. Mulcair Will the NDP Negotiate A New Health Accord to Include ABA for Autism Under Medicare?
September 30, 2015 Thomas Mulcair Leader of the Official Opposition Dear Mr Mulcair The Federal NDP has in the past been very helpful in addressing autism on a national level including efforts by Nova Scotia MP Peter Stoffer who worked with the late Fredericton Liberal MP Andy Scott to effect
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: Mr. Mulcair Will the NDP Negotiate A New Health Accord to Include ABA for Autism Under Medicare?
September 30, 2015 Thomas Mulcair Leader of the Official Opposition Dear Mr Mulcair The Federal NDP has in the past been very helpful in addressing autism on a national level including efforts by Nova Scotia MP Peter Stoffer who worked with the late Fredericton Liberal MP Andy Scott to effect
Continue readingMontreal Simon: The Munk Debate and Stephen Harper’s Foreign Policy Trial
Tonight Stephen Harper will take past in the Munk Debate on foreign policy, along with the other leaders.And if there is any justice it should be a trial of his insane foreign policy. And the way he has shamed us in the eyes of the world. For as this leaked report reveals, the
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: He Thinks They’re One And The Same Thing
http://www.metal-archives.com/ At tonight’s Munk debate, Stephen Harper will claim that — just as he is a master of economic policy — he is also a foreign
Continue readingMaple-Flavoured Politics: Playing the Security Card
The Conservatives are trying to make security a “ballot box question.” To hear Stephen Harper tell it, there’s a jihadi terrorist lurking in every shadow, ready to pounce on us when we least expect it. (Funny that they are always “jihadi” terrorists, as if the Timothy McVeighs and Ted Kaczynskis
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