As cancer care continues to be disrupted by COVID-19, CCSN is continuing its Virtual Advocacy Weeks, meeting with politicians and other decision makers across the country.
Since May that we have met with dozens of Members of Provincial Parliament and Members of Legislative Assemblies across Canada. While the situation has improved, many cancer patients still find their care disrupted. Further, the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions has caused some anxiety among patients and caregivers. In addition, CCSN is calling for the expansion of lung cancer screening in order to better catch the disease early on.
In 2021, CCSN met with nearly 70 politicians and other decision makers to inform them of the significant delays in cancer diagnosis, surgery, and treatment due to the pandemic. In 2022, CCSN has already held virtual meetings with 19 politicians in most provinces of Canada, and meetings will continue throughout the rest of the year.
Our biggest success was meeting with the Nova Scotia Liberal Caucus, the official opposition in the province. We were joined by our caregiver advocate Jennifer Roy, who hails from Halifax. The Caucus, including former premier Iain Rankin, welcomed the chance to further work with our organization, especially in terms of lung cancer screening.
In Ontario, we held a meeting in late September with MPP Mike Schreiner. The Guelph politician is the leader of the Ontario Green Party and their only sitting member of parliament. We spoke with him about inadequacies of lung cancer screening in Ontario, and raised the alarm on long-COVID in cancer patients.
Others we have spoken with also include:
Newfoundland
Sarah Stoodley – Minister of Digital Government and Service NL, Minister Responsible for the Office of the Chief Information Officer and Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs
Minister John Abbott – Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development, Minister Responsible for the Status of Persons with Disabilities, Minister Responsible for the Community Sector, and Minister Responsible for the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation.
Nova Scotia
Danielle Barkhouse – Chester-St. Margaret’s – PC
New Brunswick
Sherry Wilson – Moncton South – PC
Megan Mitton – Memramcook-Tantramar – Green
Ontario
Adil Samji – Don Valley East – Liberal
Saskatchewan
Matt Love – Saskatoon Eastview – NDP
Vicki Mowat – Saskatoon Fairview – NDP
Nicole Sarauer – Regina Douglas Park – NDP – Critic for Justice, Labour and Education
Alberta
David Sheperd – Edmonton-Riverview – NDP
Thomas Dang – Edmonton South – Independent
British Columbia
Adam Walker – Parksville-Qualicum – NDP
John Rustad – Nechako Lakes – Independent
Niki Sharma – Vancouver-Hastings – NDP
Dan Coulter -Chilliwack – NDP
Janet Routledge – Burnaby North – NDP
Susie Chant – North Vancouver-Seymour – NDP
Kelli Paddon – Chilliwack-Kent – NDP
CCSN also met with the Saskatchewan Health Authority, including Jillian Code, Jessica Baer and Dave Morhart.
We have meetings coming up in the next few weeks with MLAs and MPPs from across the country and across the political spectrum, including ministers in provincial governments. We will continue to deliver the findings of our survey to all politicians who will listen, and push for more lung cancer screening across the country. CCSN hopes that policy makers will not wait in strengthening cancer care to all Canadians fighting the disease.