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Dear Catholic Women's League of Canada Edmonton Diocesan Council,
Each year, tens of thousands of Edmontonians and Albertans turn to Catholic Social Services in their hour of greatest need. Thanks to the support of donors like YOU, we are able to respond to their call for help.
These are individuals like Colby, who came to us in desperation after an injury left him unable to work and provide for his family.
You can read his entire story below:
View this email in your browser
Join us and become a Ripple of Hope for those in need by donating today.
Each year, tens of thousands of Edmontonians and Albertans turn to Catholic Social Services in their hour of greatest need. Thanks to the support of donors like YOU, we are able to respond to their call for help.
These are individuals like Colby, who came to us in desperation after an injury left him unable to work and provide for his family.
You can read his entire story below:
View this email in your browser
Join us and become a Ripple of Hope for those in need by donating today.
PUBLIC EDUCATION THE CATHOLIC WAY video
| statement_on_nuclear_weapons_plenary_assembly_sept_25.pdf |
OVER 18 DOCUMENTARY www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4yYJDiuqSI
COMMITTED TO LIFE
National palliative care framework on track
By Deborah Gyapong
OTTAWA (CCN) - With $6 billion earmarked for home and palliative care in the 2017 federal budget, Canada is on track toward making quality end-of-life care more accessible. "This is really good news," said Conservative MP Marilyn Gladu, whose private member's Bill C-277 calling for a national palliative care :framework has passed the House of Commons Health Committee. It will come up for vote on third reading in April. Gladu said this is the first time the Liberal government has mentioned palliative care in the budget. "Everyone is really excited and on-board," she said."There's money in the budget and the health minister is moving in a supportive direction. It's all good news." "The demand for home care services is growing," budget 2017 said. "Today, approximately 15 per cent of hospital beds are still occupied by patients who could and would prefer to receive their care at home, or would be better off in a community-based setting." The $6 billion, spread over the next 10 years, is designed to improve "access to home, community and palliative care services," the document said. Gladu noted the money is going to start flowing immediately. Gladu sees momentum for developing a national palliative care framework through not only the budget announcement, but also through the support Bill C-277 is getting. After hearing witnesses, the Health Committee made some minor amendments to the bill. Gladu expects it will pass both the House of Commons and the Senate before the summer break. The Quality End-of-Life Care Coalition of Canada has already proposed a framework called "The Way Forward" that was done with federal funding two years ago, Gladu said. The Quality Coalition includes 39 organizations such as the Catholic Health Alliance of Canada; various palliative care and home care associations; various organizations representing health care professionals such as the Canadian Medical Association; and organizations such as the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Canadian Cancer Society. "It's a well-written document and the committee heard evidence on it," she said. "They don't have to start from scratch." Sharon Baxter, executive director of the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association that managed "The Way Forward" project led by the Quality Coalition, said they were expecting to see the $6 billion announced in the 2017 Budget because "that's been in play" in discussions the federal government is having with the provincial and territorial governments. It remains to be seen, however, where this money is going to be spent, she said.
Though encouraged by the announcement of the money, the association, which operates as a secretariat for the Quality Coalition, will be pushing all levels of government to fund "new initiatives over and above what's already existing."
The "health care system funds specialist care and palliative care provided in hospital settings," Baxter said. Other settings, such as long-term care homes, or their own beds are "not part of the Canada Health Act." Provinces have set up their own home-care systems. "What's included in coverage is different in each province," Baxter said. "We know clearly Canadians are saying they want their care delivered in the community and at home as long as possible, so we really need to look at how we provide services across all the set tings, not just at the hospital," she said. With legalized euthanasia and assisted suicide, but no "universal coverage for palliative care, it would be a shame if a Canadian chose to hasten their death because they were in pain."
Prairie Messenger March 29, 2017 pg. 1 & 8
CCCB - Updates on Euthanasia & Physician Assisted Suicide Resources List
www.cccb.ca/site/eng/media-room/euthanasia-and-assisted-suicide
Roman Catholic TV production team in Canada Announcement: “With great pleasure, we present to you (the) retrospective, Refuge: a Canadian history of faith and newcomers. Originally commissioned by The Catholic Women’s League of Canada and supported by more than two dozen Canadian religious communities, the series remains invaluable as background for the current refugee crisis and how it is, as today’s Canadian Christians, we continue to provide welcome and accompaniment for the world’s abandoned and on-the-run victims of war and famine.” To view the online series, please go to www.romancatholictv.com.
Catholic Women's League petitions feds to insure home care
By Thandiwe Konguavi
Staff Writer, Edmonton Archdiocesan News March 29, 2017
Patients and their families should not be on the hook for home health care, the Catholic Women’s League of Canada says.
Over 2,350 people signed the CWL’s e-petition to the federal government to have home care included as an insured service under the Canada Health Act, including 566 signatures from Alberta.
“Right now, a lot of the caregiving that’s happening in homes is (dependent) on family and friends because a lot of people can’t afford to be hiring someone to be coming into their home,” said Nancy Simms, national chairperson of legislation for the CWL.
“If the financial support was there to have the professional home care givers to come in, that would take a lot of burden off of the family and friends.” Home care is not considered a necessary health service under the Canada Health Act, meaning it may be paid for in whole or in part by provincial governments, private insurers, or by the patients and families themselves.
According to the Canadian Medical Association, home care can cost as much as $55 per day, compared to about $1,000 for hospital care. “It’s certainly not only the less expensive option but it’s also the option that is more comfortable for the patient,” said B.C. Conservative MP Cathy McLeod, who will be bringing the CWL petition to Parliament. McLeod said with adequate home support, people are healthier and “much happier to be in the home.” Simms also said it could reduce the cases of euthanasia. “If we had this in the Canada Health Act, that home care would be insured, then that would take that burden off and then it reduces the implication that you should be getting assisted suicide.” The problem is there’s no national standard for home care across Canada, McLeod said. In Alberta, home care is provided based on need. The number of Albertans receiving home care has increased by about 20 per cent in the last six years to more than 116,000 in 2015-16. Last week, Alberta Health announced a $200-million funding increase for home and community care, bringing total funding to more than $2 billion.
Sandra Azocar, executive director of Friends of Medicare, said every Canadian should have equal access to home care. "Cost is definitely an issue and that creates a sense of inequity and it moves away from what the Canada Health Act and what our medicare system is supposed to be all about.”
| Pope Francis Mercy to Earth Examen of Conscience.pdf |
Speak Out for Conscience Rights!
With physician-assisted suicide now legal in Canada, healthcare practitioners and facilities in some provinces are in a compromised position. Those who cannot support assisted suicide or euthanasia because of their conscience, faith, or commitment to the Hippocratic Oath could be forced to compromise their convictions. They shouldn't have to. The Coalition for HealthCARE and Conscience has recently launched a petition campaign protect these conscience rights; please do your part by signing the petition at http://www.canadiansforconscience.ca.
With physician-assisted suicide now legal in Canada, healthcare practitioners and facilities in some provinces are in a compromised position. Those who cannot support assisted suicide or euthanasia because of their conscience, faith, or commitment to the Hippocratic Oath could be forced to compromise their convictions. They shouldn't have to. The Coalition for HealthCARE and Conscience has recently launched a petition campaign protect these conscience rights; please do your part by signing the petition at http://www.canadiansforconscience.ca.
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