Medicare for Autism Now Autism Information For October 14 Vote

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Autism Vote Recommendations for New Brunswick

The smart voting campaign of the Vote for Environment is also helpful for autism voting. If you want a strong federal government role in funding autism treatment in New Brunswick you will not get that from the Conservative or Green Parties. The Conservatives oppose any serious federal role in funding autism treatment and the Green Party is not seriously involved with autism issues.

Almost all Liberal and NDP MP's all supported Shawn Murphy's motion to amend the Canada Health Act to include autism treatment in Medicare.

To support a federal autism role vote for the Liberal or NDP parties whichever is stronger in your riding.

Based on data from Vote for Environment the autism vote recommendations in New Brunswick are:

Vote Liberal in all NB ridings .... except Acadie-Bathurst, Fundy Royal and New Brunswick Southwest where the NDP are stronger. In those 3 ridings vote NDP

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Vote Autism October 14 Vote Smart Vote Liberal or NDP

If you want to vote for federal assistance in providing autism treatment in Canada vote against the Conservative in your riding. Vote for the NDP or Liberal, whichever is stronger, in your riding.

A person's vote is an important matter. In casting that vote people generally consider a variety of facts, issues, platforms etc. My vote is heavily influenced by autism issues. I have already stated that I would not be voting Conservative or Green. The Conservative hostility to a federal role in dealing with Canada's autism crisis makes the Tories a non starter. The Green party has many admirable principles but has shown no knowledge of autism issues or any real concern, at the leadership and party platform level, about addressing Canada's autism crisis. The first goal of Canadians who, like me, want to see a federal commitment to addressing Canada's autism crisis, should be to defeat the Conservatives and elect as many Liberals and NDP as possible.

Both the Liberal and NDP parties have many members committed to a real National Autism Strategy, led by Shawn Murphy for the Liberals and Peter Stoffer for the NDP. NDP leader Jack Layton makes no commitment to doing anything for autism and Liberal leader Dion essentially offers only to be receptive to overtures from stakeholders. Slim pickings overall but only a government led by the Liberals or NDP, either as a majority government or as a coalition with one party supporting the other, offers ANY hope for a federal government commitment for a REAL national autism strategey, one that provides federal funding for ABA treatment for autistic children in Canada regardless of where their parents happen to live. The way to ensure the defeat of the anti-autism Conservatives and put the Liberals and/or NDP in government is to vote strategically. If the NDP are stronger in your riding vote NDP. If the Liberals are stronger vote Liberal. In this way more NDP and Liberals, and fewer Conservatives, are likely to be elected and those results will better serve the cause of autism in Canada.

Some advocates for environmental causes have already recognized the need to vote strategically. At Vote For Environment they recognize that it is necessary to vote to change the government in order to help the environment. Governments, not individual MP's, govern and legislate. The front page currently contains information setting out what would occur if voting were held today and votes were split based on party loyalty and what would occur if smart voting, voting to change the government were to happen:

The difference between vote splitting between the two "autism" parties and smart voting for whichever party Liberal/NDP is stronger in your riding is startling. Vote splitting will result in another Conservative/Bloc alliance, the same alliance which refuses to provide federal funding for autism treatment. Voting smart, voting for whichever "autism" party, Liberal or NDP, is stronger in your riding results in a Liberal/NDP alliance and the possibilty of a real national autism policy. Both of these parties, and their leaders voted in support of Shawn Murphy's motion to amend the Canada Health Act to include coverage of ABA treatment for autism.

Elections are decided riding by riding and Vote for Environment also sets out riding by riding information to help you decide how to vote. I strongly encourage "autism" voters to check out the information for their riding and vote for the stronger of the NDP or Liberal parties in their riding.

An interesting example is the riding of Parry Sound-Muskoka, home riding of alleged Health Minister Tony Clement.

As the data indicates Conservative Tony Clement would win again if voting took place today and the Liberal and NDP votes were split. If NDP voters voted instead for the second place Liberal candidate the Liberal would win.

Autism vote recommendation for Parry Sound- Muskoka - Vote Liberal

Oshawa is an example of a riding where the Conservative Candidate is leading and the NDP is second. If Oshawa Liberals voted NDP though the NDP candidate would likely win. One less Conservative elected and one more vote for a party that is much more likely to support a real National Autism Strategy.

Autism vote recommendation for Oshawa - Vote NDP

If enough strategic voting takes place across Canada the Conservative Party, which staunchly opposes federal involvement in addressing Canada's Autism Crisis, will be defeated. One or both of the Liberal Party and NDP will form the government. Both of these are "autism parties" and more likely to enact a real National Autism Strategy.

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Liberal MP David McGuinty and NDP Candidate Marlene Rivier Commit To Funding Autism Treatment Under Medicare

The non-partisan efforts of the Medicare For Autism Now Campaign are featured in a Sun Media article on C-Health. The article includes comments from long time autism activists Louise Witt of Surrey, British Columbia and Andrew Kavchak of Ottawa, Ontario. Both Louise and Andrew stress the non-partisan nature of the campaign.

Candidates from two political parties are also featured as supporting the effort to include autism treatment in Medicare, Ottawa South MP David McGuinty, running for re-election for the Liberals and New Democrat candidate Marlene Rivier, running in Ottawa West-Nepean:

Marlene Rivier, NDP:

"I really think autistic children have been shortchanged. Commitments have been made to them and then those governments have failed to follow through on them. We need to extend treatment to those families, and continue examining evidence to ensure they are producing the outcomes we want for these children during the critical years. The fact they are being denied the help they need is really quite tragic."

David McGuinty, Liberal:

"We need to find out how we might proceed and whether the Canada Health Act might be amended to include treatment for autism spectrum. My brother (Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty) has been seized with this for years. It's a tough thing, a lot of demands. I've been working hard on this and it's something we have to move forward on"

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A Fredericton Autism Follow Up To Alberta MP Brian Storseth

Brian Storseth MP
Westlock-St. Paul

4401 50th Street

St. Paul, Alberta

Telephone: (780) 614-6440

Fax: (780) 645-6817

Storseth.B@parl.gc.ca

Dear Mr. Storseth

On August 27, 2008 I emailed you in response to a Member of Parliament mail out I received from you concerning the Conservative Party. That mail out was an obvious attempt to exploit fear of crime for political purposes. Since you had taken the trouble to use your parliamentary mail privileges to contact me I replied by email. Since you had adopted me as a constituent I expressed my concerns about your government's failure to address the autism crisis in Canada and asked that:

" you encourage your party leader Stephen Harper to adopt a real National Autism Strategy. Send federal dollars to the provinces to ensure that every autistic child receives evidence based treatment regardless of their parents' postal address. You have reached across the country once; you can do it again - for autistic children."

Now that the federal election campaign is in full swing I ask, as one of your adopted constituents, whether you have acted on my request. Have you encouraged Mr. Harper to provide federal funding for autism treatment across Canada and what is the current position of the Conservative Party?

Your response, prior to election day, would be appreciated.

Respectfully,


Harold L Doherty
Fredericton NB

cc. Facing Autism in New Brunswick


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Autism and the NDP

Hon. Jack Layton
221 Broadview Avenue , Suite 100 (Main Office)
Toronto, Ontario

Dear Mr. Layton

When my son was diagnosed with an autism disorder 10 years ago the
Center for Disease Control in the United States estimated that 1 in 500 persons would be diagnosed with an autism disorder. For the past two years the CDC has estimated that 1 in 150 people are on the autism
spectrum of disorders.

During those ten years, like many other parents, I have advocated for a serious national response to Canada's autism crisis. While some argue academically whether there is a crisis most parents do not. We see the realities of autism every single day. We find great joy in our children but we know that unless a serious national strategy is forged our children's chances for a fulfilling life will be at risk.

To date the federal government response to the autism crisis has been either non-existent or contemptuous of the challenges facing autistic Canadians and those who love and care for them. Charlottetown MP Shawn Murphy proposed a serious national autism strategy, one which would include amendment of the Canada Health Act to require funding of ABA treatment for autism. Peter Stoffer of the NDP was an important supporter of Mr. Murphy's motion. Mr.Stoffer has been a strong advocate for the cause of autistic people in Canada for many years and his hard work is much appreciated.

I ask you Mr. Layton whether the NDP, whatever the outcome of the impending vote, will seek amendment of the Canada Health Act to include coverage of ABA treatment for autism. I would appreciate your informed response. My autistic son would appreciate your response.

Respectfully,


Harold L Doherty
Fredericton NB

cc. Facing Autism in New Brunswick

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Medicare for Autism NOW! Campaign

Medicare for Autism Now!

Dear Friends,

As you know, it is federal election time in Canada , and a critical time for our campaign for Medicare for Autism Now!

We are a national coalition of non-partisan parents, advocates and professionals seeking medicare coverage for effective, science-based autism treatment otherwise known as ABA (applied behaviour analysis).

Over 40 years of research and litigation have identified this treatment as medically necessary. It is the only core health need not included in health care, therefore costing thousands of Canadian families up to $80 thousand dollars a year each to access the only effective treatment for their children.

The Medicare for Autism Now! National campaign launched in March, 2008. Our non- partisan campaign is focused on creating policy change to make ABA/IBI treatment available for all Canadians diagnosed with autism.

During the current federal election we are supporting candidates in specific constituencies across Canada, regardless of party affiliation, who will publicly commit to supporting legislation which will amend the Canada Health Act to include autism treatment under Medicare, thereby ending the discrimination against some of the most vulnerable Canadians.

Please support this crucial campaign now with a financial donation:

Make cheques payable to:

Medicare for Autism Now Society

Suite 425-1489 Marine Drive

West Vancouver, BC

V7T 1B8

Donate Online! Secure, quick and easy.

www.medicareforautismnow.org

(click on the “Donate” button)

Please check the website on a regular basis during the election campaign for important information.

THANK YOU for your support!

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Medicare for Autism Now! Rally October 4th Surrey BC

Medicare for Autism Now! Rally

Saturday, October 4th, 2008
2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Eaglequest Golf Club,
7778 – 152nd St.,

Surrey, BC, V3S 3M4

Why should I attend?

· Despite a decade of lobbying, collaborating and litigating – autism treatment is still excluded from our universal health care system. Canadian families from BC to Newfoundland and everywhere in between are still bankrupting themselves in order to provide treatment for their autistic children.

· The current and limited funding provided through the Ministry for Children and Families could evaporate tomorrow with the stroke of a bureaucrat’s pen. No legislation exists within this ministry to protect or enshrine our children’s medically necessary treatment.

· In 30 years of advocacy, the only two initiatives which have achieved ANY success for our children and families has been litigation, and more recently, focused political action. Both were brought by the members of FEAT of BC – a 100% volunteer organization.

Autism is an epidemic of staggering proportions, it now afflicts one in every 150 children in North America, one in every 94 boys.

· Autism is an election issue in the US…Both Senators Obama and McCain have publicly identified progressive autism policy which can be viewed on their websites….Obama-“Every nation has a special responsibility to look after those who can’t look after themselves…” McCain-“Their lives should matter to the people elected to office…they matter to me.” In 2006, both Obama and McCain supported the “Combating Autism Bill” which allocated $945 million to autism research and treatment. The US federal government recognizes their responsibility to intervene by acting to avoid a major health and social crisis.

It is now time for our federal government to recognize their responsibility to act!

· Today, all over Canada, parents of children with autism and growing numbers of other fair-minded, but outraged Canadian voters expect our federal government to show leadership and act. This is not a right or left issue – it’s a right or wrong issue!

· We intend to let those who govern and those who wish to govern know that they will be held accountable, regardless of party affiliation, at the ballot box on Oct. 14th.

Who should attend? You – and every fair-minded Canadian you know!

In Canada, children with autism and their families suffer from political indifference. It will take the sustained energy and dedication of EVERY CANADIAN who desires a just society to correct this injustice. For our children’s sake, and the sake of future generations, we urge you to attend this rally.

Please bring friends, family, kids, anyone and everyone you know who is appalled by the gross injustice done to our children every day by the governments of Canada and its provinces. Come and find out how you can make your vote actually count on October 14th!

Featured speakers will include:

Dr. Sabrina Freeman – parent, founder and Executive Director, FEAT of BC

Jean Lewis – parent, Director of FEAT of BC and The Medicare for Autism Now Society

Beverley Sharpe – parent and FEAT of BC member

Dr. Glen Davies – Clinical Director, ABLE Developmental Clinic

Louise Witt – parent, Director of FEAT of BC and The Autism Society of BC

Dubravka Skrijelj – parent, FEAT of BC member

Dr. Melvin deLevie – Pediatrician, Vancouver

David Marley – Political advisor to FEAT of BC and Director – The Medicare for Autism Now Society

David Chan – parent, Director- Autism Society of BC and FEAT of BC member

Dione Costanzo – parent, FEAT of BC member

Children are more than welcome! There will be a room for them to hang out, play, enjoy snacks and get their face painted!

Please RSVP to _______________

For more information or to find out how you can help, go to:

www.medicareforautismnow.org

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