Chris in the Commons: Conservatives can’t escape blame for cancer care that’s failing Hamiltonians

Ms. Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain, NDP): , Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives’ so-called patient wait times guarantee is failing Canadians.

Just last week, in my hometown of Hamilton we learned that cancer care is failing to meet key targets. Waits for treatment are too long, too few people get radiation therapy, the number of patients in clinical trials is shockingly low, too many die in hospital, and not enough are screened for early detection of cancer.

The Conservatives have abdicated responsibility for the problem by recommending that patients take their health-care providers to task. But that’s passing the buck.

There is a direct link between poor health outcomes and the government’s poor record on health care reform.

We know that poverty and disease are closely linked, yet the government has done nothing to fight poverty. Research funding is crucial to support clinical trials, but this government isn’t paying its fair share. There is a serious shortage of oncologists, nurses and technologists, yet there is insufficient funding. And families want end-of-life care for their loved ones, but palliative care and pain management are not even on the government’s radar.

Excellence in health care requires all of us to work together. The federal government must lead by enforcing the Canada Health Act and ensuring that our health care system is universal, accessible, portable, comprehensive and publicly administered.
Cancer patients and their families deserve nothing less.