For Immediate Release
CHPCA Cheers Unanimous Senate Approval of Bill C-277
Ottawa, December 8, 2017. – The Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association is celebrating the Senate of Canada’s unanimous approval of bill C-277. “This is a big first step in our effort to create a national, sustainable framework for hospice and palliative care”, said Sharon Baxter, Executive Director of the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association.
Bill C-277 began its journey as a private member’s bill sponsored by Sarnia-Lambton MP Marilyn Gladu. It quickly received strong backing from many national organizations, including the CHPCA, which testified in support of the bill to both the House of Commons Committee on Health and the Senate’s Science and Social Affairs Committee.
By the end of the third reading in the Senate it had received strong bi-partisan support, including the endorsement of more than 100 organizations. “I am grateful to MP Marilyn Gladu, who originally sponsored this bill, but I am deeply heartened by the hard work and effort by all the Canadian national organizations such as the Quality End of Life Care Coalition of Canada (QELCCC) and by the truly bi-partisan support it has received by all our politicians”, said Baxter. “It just goes to show, that in issues that really matter, Canadians are truly united and together we can do great work together”.
With the Senate’s unanimous approval Bill C-277, the bill will receive Royal Ascent and then become law. The bill calls on the minister of health to meet with provincial health ministers within six months and build a national framework that provides timely and accessible hospice palliative care for all Canadians coast, to coast, to coast. Sharon Baxter reiterated the CHPCA’s strong commitment to this goal. “The passage of bill C-277 is an important first step, but the follow through is just as important if not more so”, said Baxter. “The CHPCA and all our members look forward to working with all our members of Parliament and Senators, to make timely, accessible, hospice palliative care a living reality for all Canadians.”
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For More information, Contact:
John Papadimas
Communications and Policy Advisor / Conseillère en communications
Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (CHPCA) / Association canadienne de soins palliatifs (ACSP)
Email/courriel [email protected]
Phone/Téléphone: (613) 241-3663 Ext/Poste. 229
Toll Free/sans frais: 1-800-668-2785 Ext/Poste. 229
Fax/télécopieur: (613) 241-3986