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What to give your MP to read

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OK, now I have your attention. For sure, my MP is very literate. All can read. But have they read anything truly useful about Lyme Disease and its impact on Canadians? Or about the policy implications of a growing problem that looks like it is only getting worse?

My federal MP is Craig Scott. He is still fairly new to the job, since he was elected only a few months ago in a by-election, to replace our late, beloved Jack Layton. I have been corresponding with Craig’s assistant, who was open to the idea of a “Lyme Disease Primer” to quickly bring Craig up to speed on the complexities of the illness.

At first I came up with about a dozen articles. Too many. So I pared the list down. The first may offend other lymies, but he might as well see it now in context, in direct comparison to other more robust sources written by people who actually have or who actually “treat” lyme disease. For Craig will ultimately be given the PHAC “Lyme Disease Fact Sheet” when the Bill is being considered. He is a federal MP, and PHAC is the “Public Health Agency of Canada.”

Here is my list of Lyme Disease “reading material.” They can be skimmed in half an hour. A careful read might take an hour. I am not advocating this as the holy grail of lists, just my hurried thoughts about what might help my representative in Parliament to understand my plight, ask intelligent questions, watch out for the twisted arguments of some of the “vested interests,” and come to humane, reasonable and responsible conclusions.

  1. Lyme Disease Fact Sheet by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)
  2. Basic Information about Lyme Disease by the International Lyme And Associated Diseases Society (ILADS)
  3. Symptoms of Lyme Disease – see link to Word document compiled by Dr. Murakami, Canada
  4. “Our Mad Medical Wonderland: Infectious Lyme Disease is virtually ignored in Canada” – by Helke Ferrie, medical science writer and publisher. Published by CCPA Monitor, June 1, 2010.
  5. “Lyme Disease Goes Under The Microscope” – by Helke Ferrie, medical science writer and publisher.
  6. Letter from Ontario Lyme victims to Provincial Ministry of Health and Long term Care, 2011

There were some pretty major constraints: time, length, availability, complexity. And most of all, if I gave this list to anyone who was willing to invest an hour on focussed reading, would they have a clear glimpse of my world? I hope so. Craig is visiting me soon. It is imperative that our MP’s are educated about the real, tangible effects of Lyme Disease and their co-hosts, the other nasty tick-borne infections. I know many many people who are making solid efforts to do just that. When Elizabeth May’s Private Member’s “Lyme” Bill is introduced and eventually debated, I trust that they will be prepared, and willing to act in unison to avert a growing Canadian health crisis.

MP Elizabeth May to introduce “National Lyme Strategy Bill” on June 20th

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I have had lyme disease for almost eight years, and have been bedridden for close to six of those years. For a long time I have been gnashing my teeth at the weak response by our Canadian leaders toward the escalating problem of lyme disease and other tick-borne co-infections in this country. So… it is with great excitement that I can finally pass on some wonderful news for Canadians! All Canadians.

June 20th, 2012 is the day that the following groups of people should pay careful attention to MP Elizabeth May’s announcement.

  1. Those who have lyme disease and are desperately trying to get some help in this country.
  2. Those who have friends or loved ones who are struggling with lyme disease and tick-borne infections.
  3. Those who know someone with lyme disease. (BTW, this group is getting larger as lyme disease continues to become more prevalent).

My prediction is that within a few years it will be difficult to find anyone in this country who doesn’t know someone with lyme disease. For now, the 20 million of you that currently meet the above criteria can help to get lyme disease treated seriously in this country (see end of this post for specific instructions on how to help).

Although Elizabeth May is the Green Leader, this bill is aimed at supporting all Canadians with a much-needed, coordinated national strategy to get rid of the massive roadblocks currently preventing quick diagnosis, timely and accurate testing, full treatment and longer term support and care. Excerpts from Elizabeth May’s statement on her web site give a little more context to her decision to offer support to the growing cadre of Canadians who are ill or disabled with lyme disease.

May will introduce a Private Member’s Bill calling for the development of a national strategy to address the challenges of the timely recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of Lyme disease. The bill also calls for funding for provinces and territories to implement the strategy.

“Lyme disease can be devastating. Too many Canadians are now disabled, deprived of the joy of family and friends, of school or work, due to Lyme disease. The public and the medical community need to be educated as to the increasing incidence and range of this disease,” said May…..

“Scientists are warning that a warming climate will expand the geographic range of Lyme disease-carrying ticks further into Canada, so it is imperative that we are proactive,” said May.

[From Elizabeth May, MP]

Details

  • On Wed. June 20th, 2012 in Ottawa, Elizabeth May is planning to introduce a private member’s bill relating to Lyme disease. Look for a press conference that day and the reading of the bill by Elizabeth to our federally elected MP’s later the same day.
  • The bill is multi-faceted, with detailed timelines that require adherence by the Federal Minister of Health at various stages, including when the conference must be convened, when the health minister would report back to MP’s, timeline for posting new national strategy on the official gov’t website, and many other critical details to ensure that the job is done right!
  • CanLyme has been consulted at length by Elizabeth to make sure patient’s interests will be heard.
  • Elizabeth is allowed to introduce one private member’s bill in her four year term. She has chosen to help Canadians with Lyme disease get their right to health care back.

How can each one of us help Elizabeth pass this bill?

We ALL need to do the following and ask for friends, & family wherever they live in Canada to do the same to support you and get this National Lyme Strategy Bill passed:

  1. Find out who your federal MP is. Click here.
  2. Contact your federal MP and if at all humanly possible set up a face-to-face meeting.
  3. Tell them your story, and how lyme disease affects you, your family or your friend(s).
  4. Tell them that you know others across Canada in the same predicament (like me, for instance)
  5. Tell them that you, your family or friend(s) are being denied the right to health care.
  6. Ask if you can count on their support to get this bill passed.
  7. Make sure your MP knows this is not just a ‘Green’ party bill, it is a bill that could affect every single Canadian including themselves, or their loved ones.
  8. Remind your MP to vote with their conscience as this is a private member’s bill; no party vote needed.
  9. Contact friends, family, acquaintances, people in your local communities. Let them know how important support is. Ask them to contact their MP.

If you need further information, check out Elizabeth May’s web site. Also, use my contact page to ask for assistance, or to find out how to include your picture in the display of Canadians suffering with lyme disease – this display will be part of Elizabeth May’s press conference scheduled to occur before the bill is introduced in parliament on June 20th.