Pubdate: Sun, 08 Nov 2015
Source: Toronto Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2015 The Toronto Star
Contact:  http://www.thestar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/456
Author: Kristy Kirkup
Page: A4

LIBERALS EAGER TO MOVE ON HEALTH FILE

Legalization of marijuana, doctor-assisted death among issues on
docket for minister

OTTAWA- Canada's new health minister, Jane Philpott, says she plans to
engage with provincial and territorial counterparts as soon as next
week as the Liberals set the wheels in motion to establish a new
health accord.

In an interview, Philpott said the government perceives the agreement
to be a high priority because executing other aspects of the Grit
platform will depend on developing a strong relationship with the
provinces and territories.

The 54-year-old physician also said she will attend a meeting of
health ministers scheduled for January.

In the coming months, the Liberals will try to usher in a new era of
federal-provincial relations, especially on the health file.

The party was very critical of the previous Conservative government's
decision to allow Canada's health accord, an action plan backed by
billions of federal dollars to establish shared goals, to expire.

Philpott also faces critical legislative issues in her portfolio,
including a Liberal pledge to legalize marijuana. The government's
first step toward giving adults the green light for recreational pot
use involves establishing a provincial, territorial and federal task
force with public health, substance abuse and public safety experts.

"I will clearly have the opportunity to be involved from a health
perspective and looking at the health aspects of new legislation," she
said.

Philpott also noted the Liberals will need to get started quickly to
accomplish its ambitious mandate.

The second pressing issue will be responding to the Supreme Court of
Canada's decision on doctor-assisted death.

In February, the country's top court recognized the right of clearly
consenting adults who endure intolerable physical or mental suffering
and wish to end their lives to do so with a doctor's help.

Parliament was given one year to deal with the legislation.

"As Canadians might expect, the minister of justice and the department
related will obviously play a very large role in that and we will be
happy to work with them in that," she said. "I think the other thing
we talked about in our platform is making sure that there is fair
opportunity to have a broad input from Canadians on this incredibly
important issue."

Philpott, a mother of four, led an impressive professional career
before entering the political ring, a decision she made after
realizing it would require "more than medicine" to help people live
healthier lives.

The MP for the Toronto-area riding of Markham-Stouffville spent most
of the first decade of her medical career in West Africa, where she
practised general medicine and helped establish a training program for
village health workers.

The experience has had a lasting effect on Philpott's life and she
remains involved in global health issues. "I think those things help
you to sort of see health and health care from a global perspective
and help you understand issues of equity and help you to understand
what it takes for people to be healthy," she said.

Philpott also believes she will bring a special perspective to her
role as minister after being involved on the front lines. "I think
health-care providers do bring a special perspective to the role, and
obviously having been involved in health-care delivery is going to be
very helpful in terms of understanding that part of the health-care
system," Philpott said.

As she prepares to tackle an enormous file, Philpott said she is
grateful she will be guided by a strong team of civil servants.

"I have a lot on my plate but I have an incredible team of people
helping me out on that," she said.
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MAP posted-by: Matt