Tory MPs should support a dementia strategy

OTTAWA—As Canadian delegates left for the G8 Summit on Dementia in England in late 2013, I made the following comment concerning our country’s lack of a national dementia plan: “We must act. A national dementia strategy is imperative for Lisa, Justin, Rebecca, Peter and so many others,” (The Hill Times, Dec. 9, 2013). A little over a year later, as my 46-year old wife’s frontotemporal dementia condition continues to advance, my message has become far more urgent for her, our children, and millions of Canadians. Why? Three weeks ago, the Conservative government announced it opposes Bill C-356, a bill for a national dementia strategy introduced by NDP MP Claude Gravelle. It is concrete legislation that, if passed, will mandate action for a national plan. Largely ignored in the mainstream media, this government decision is bound to harm aging Canadians and their caregivers unless enough Conservative MPs do the right thing and support this private member’s bill. I remain hopeful this can happen. On March 13, Gravelle noted in second reading debate that an agreement was in place to pass the bill with Conservative support, given the NDP had accepted in discussions the government’s proposed amendments. Sadly, the Conservatives backed away, introducing instead a motion by MP Ben Lobb, which captures the government’s work on dementia and uses language and issues named in C-356. As Gravelle stated, “But what the Conservatives call their national dementia strategy is in fact a research strategy alone, a plan that does not immediately help patients, caregivers, and the dementia workforce. As important as research is, it does not help keep our loved ones with Alzheimer’s or related dementia diseases in the home.” I agree wholeheartedly. A “feel good” motion might get unanimous approval in Parliament with no referral to committee, no hearing from stakeholders, and especially no binding law to enforce the plan. Work by many key stakeholders this past year has ignited a discussion about the impending dementia tsunami in Canada—750,000 people currently diagnosed (a figure that will double in a generation) plus the three to four caregivers (on average) each patient has—meaning the disease directly affects more than three million Canadians. The infrastructure in place is a big part of the discussion. I commend the Health Minister Rona Ambrose and others for implementing numerous dementia-related initiatives over the past year: the creation of the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA); the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA); co-hosting (along with France) the Second Global Dementia Legacy Event in September. In addition, the Conservatives’ commitment to research certainly cannot be overlooked, having invested $220-million in research related to dementia since 2006. And the October 2014 pronouncement in which Canada’s health ministers agreed to begin planning on a pan-Canadian dementia strategy was certainly a giant step in the right direction. Yet, what gravely concerns me is the Conservative opposition to this bill and their substitute dementia motion. I fear that Canadians will be purposefully misled on what is actually happening. We need a law with national leadership that helps those now living with the disease, their caregivers, and the dementia workforce. A real plan would help caregivers like Tanya Levesque of Ottawa. Gravelle told her story during the debate. To take care of her mom at home, Levesque first took a leave without pay, an option good for only five years. As money gets tighter, they draw on savings that were meant for later years. She has not been able to access EI benefits, social assistance, or claim the caregiver amount on her income tax. She has changed her eating habits so that her mother can eat nutritiously. “Because of a lack of future job security, my retirement security is in question—I can’t save, because I’ve chosen to care for my mother, who took care of me,” Ms. Levesque wrote. A motion doesn’t help our caregivers. It goes without saying that the issue of dementia should be non-partisan. All parties except the Conservatives support C-356. I believe individual MPs looking at the evidence and hearing from constituents will do the right thing. Some are in tight election races, or not running again, or connected to faith communities who are big supporters of C-356. I am encouraged that NDP MP Charlie Angus’ palliative care motion passed with enough government MP support after initial government opposition. I ask Canadians to contact their MPs. The decision not to pass legislation will rest solely with the current Conservative government. Such a position, as articulated on March 13, will no doubt haunt Canadians affected by dementia in the years to come. Matthew Dineen is a husband and father of three. His wife Lisa was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia in January 2013 and placed into long-term care two months later. He teaches full-time at a local high school here in Ottawa. news@hilltimes.com The Hill Times

Tory MPs should support a dementia strategy

Three weeks ago, the Conservative government announced it opposes Bill C-356, a bill for a national dementia strategy introduced by NDP MP Claude Gravelle.

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Tory MPs should support a dementia strategy

Three weeks ago, the Conservative government announced it opposes Bill C-356, a bill for a national dementia strategy introduced by NDP MP Claude Gravelle.

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