Bitterest Pill Event at Queen’s Park – DATE CHANGE & DETAILS

February 16, 2022

The following is a press release from CanCertainty:

The event previously scheduled for Monday, March 28th has been rescheduled to Monday, April 4th.  This change was in consideration of the weather.

The event will still be on the southeast lawn of Queen’s Park now on Monday, April 4th from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.  We ask that you, along with members of your team and patient community, attend. Showing broad support to resolve this issue in Ontario once and for all is critical! Thank you to those who have RSVP’d already.

EVENT PURPOSE: To demonstrate the multiple ‘hoops’ patients under 65 living in Ontario go through, we will have 30 hula hoops on the grass surrounding the Ontario flagpole. Each hoop will be the step in the complex and delayed process to access THCDs. We ask that patient group advocates stand next to a hula hoop holding a sign that is one step in the process. You will be provided with a t-shirt saying, “Why delays, dollars, distress for cancer patients in Ontario?” to identify you as a patient advocate. MPPs and their staff will be asked to “jump” from hoop to hoop to learn how challenging it is to access THCDs. At the end they will be given a $4,000 bill to pay to the Ontario government as a deductible. This “bill” will be the take-away with our call to action to close the $30M gap along with other alarming statistics. Lawn signs will be placed around the event with the call to action, statistics, and a QR code to sign the petition.

 

AGENDA

9 a.m. – Arrive at Queen’s Park south lawn around the Ontario flag. Meet with patient group advocates, light breakfast, review agenda and volunteer roles

10 a.m. – Sign in with Queen’s Park Security and go to Legislature for introduction in the House before Question Period

10:30 a.m. – Introduction in the Legislature from Public Gallery, watch Question Period

11 a.m. – Washroom break then return to south lawn of Queen’s Park to stand by hula hoop

11:30 a.m. – Advocacy event begins with MPP/political staff participation in activity. A packaged lunch will be provided.

12:10 p.m. – Speaking remarks from patient group advocates

12:20 p.m. – Media Q&A

12:30 p.m. – Continued participation in activity

1:15 p.m. – Tear down and lunch for volunteers

ACTION ITEMS

  1. Mark your calendar and be at Queen’s Park on Monday, April 4th, 2022. We need 30+ patient advocates to run this event.
  2. RSVP to jilda.lazer@reverbconsulting.ca by Thursday, March 31st.
  3. Invite your staff, volunteers, patients and caregivers to attend the event (and RSVP to Jilda).
  4. Have all political parties commit to equal access to THCDs in their election platforms!

Please be in touch with any questions.  We look forward to seeing you on Monday, April 4th at Queen’s Park.