The Two Autism Faces of Pierre Poilievre

Pierre Poilievre is yet another of what seems to be an abundant supply of MP's in the Conservative Party of Stephen Harper who, while in opposition presented one face on the need for inclusion of autism treatment in Medicare, then wore another face once the Harper Conservatives formed the government. When it comes to federal financing of autism treatment for Canadians with autism Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre (Nepean—Carleton, CPC) has presented two decidedly different faces.

Autism FACE # 1 - Opposition MP Pierre Poilievre

While serving in opposition Conservative Party MP Pierre Poilievre was quite happy to use the cause of autistic children to bludgeon the Liberal government of the day as he did in the House of Commons on October 5, 2005.

38th PARLIAMENT, 1st SESSION
EDITED HANSARD • NUMBER 132

Mr. Pierre Poilievre (Nepean—Carleton, CPC): Madam Speaker, I rise today with honour to introduce petitions on behalf of constituents in my riding who wish to see the government finally show some leadership in seeking a national framework that would see autism treatment covered by health insurance as part of an overall universal health care system.

The government has deliberately excluded families, who have children with autism, from health coverage, and as a result middle class families are stuck with $40,000 health bills year after year. Members across the way do nothing about it.

Today I proudly introduce a petition calling for some action and calling for some fairness.

Autism FACE # 2 - Government MP and Parliamentary Secretary Pierre Poilievre

HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA 39th PARLIAMENT, 1st SESSION No. 115 (Unrevised) Wednesday, February 21, 2007 1:00 p.m.

Private Members' Business

Pursuant to Standing Order 93(1), the House proceeded to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion of Mr. Murphy (Charlottetown), seconded by Mr. Szabo (Mississauga South), — That Bill C-304, An Act to provide for the development of a national strategy for the treatment of autism and to amend the Canada Health Act, be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Health.

YEAS: 113, NAYS: 155


NAYS

Poilievre

Once again, a member of Stephen Harper's Conservative Party has been willing to wear two autism faces. On October 5 2005 , Pierre Poilievre, wearing Autism Face # 1, while sitting as an opposition MP, rose in the House of Commons, to chastise the Liberal government of Paul Martin for excluding familes, who have children with autism, from health coverage, and as a result sticking middle class families with $40,000 health bills year after year. Mr. Polievre ripped "Members across the way do nothing about it."

Then on February 21, 2007, wearing Autism Face # 2, now sitting as an MP and Parliamentary Secretary in the governing Conservative Party Mr. Poilievre voted NAY , he voted against, the Private Members' bill of MP Shawn Murphy which, if passed, would have required the federal government to do exactly what Mr. Polievre had previously crticised a different federal government for failing to do.

Pierre Poilievre now a "member across the way", sitting in government, has done exactly what he criticised the Liberals for doing - he has helped perpetuate the exclusion from medicare coverage of treatment for autistic children.

Pierre Poilievre you are a hypocrite.

autism