Last month, anaphylaxis advocate Cindy Paskey visited with MP Dean Allison in Ottawa to discuss the Canadian Anaphylaxis Initiative group’s activities through the Spring Session of Parliament. Here is the meat of the press release issued as a result of the discussions.
CAI is working with a core group of MPs to raise greater understanding of the daily challenges anaphylaxis presents to affected Canadians, their families and the general public. MP Dean Allison, a leading champion of this campaign, comments, “I understand the stressful challenges of staying safe through the many e-mails and messages of support I receive- not only from families, but also from the many people who know someone living with a life-threatening allergy. Parliament and the Ottawa bureaucracy can help increase their health and safety.”
One of their key successes has been introducing an anaphylaxis awareness motion in the House of Commons. MP Allison’s M-230 reads:
That in the opinion of the House, anaphylaxis is a serious concern for an increasing number of Canadians and the government should take the appropriate measures necessary to ensure these Canadians are able to maintain a high quality of life.
Cindy Paskey comments on her Ottawa visit. “Talks with Dean Allison have been very productive. Together, the CAI and MPs will continue their efforts to educate the Parliament Hill community. Greater awareness and government actions are necessary to achieve day-to-day safety for the increasing number of Canadian children and families coping with severe allergies that can cause deadly allergic reactions.”
Ms. Paskey explains that, in the months to come, CAI will meet with MPs sitting on the Health Committee and will continue the dialogue with the Minister of Health and her staff. There are plans to host an information meeting to ensure all Parliamentarians receive the latest news relating to Motion 230. Also, as a stakeholder, CAI continues to engage Health Canada in the improvement of allergen labeling regulations.
To read the press release in its entirety, click onto the CAI’s website – here.
