Parties support strong action on lung health

Parties support strong action on lung health

Ottawa October 7, 2008 “ The Lung Association today released the responses from federal political parties to the lung health questionnaire sent to party leaders on September 10, 2008.

œThroughout the course of this federal election campaign, The Lung Association has asked party leaders to make lung health a priority, said Nora Sobolov, President and CEO of The Lung Association, œThe responses provided to the questionnaire or through platform commitments are clear evidence that we have partners in the House of Commons willing to help the 6 million Canadians with lung disease breathe easier

To dramatically lower incidence of lung disease in Canada, The Lung Association asked the party leaders for the following three commitments in this election:

Funding for the National Lung Health Framework: Canada's first-ever national action plan on lung health;

Strong legislation and regulations to clean up the air Canadians breathe; and,

Increased funding for research into the causes and exacerbations of lung disease.

The National Lung Health Framework is Canada's first comprehensive plan to combat lung disease.

When fully funded and implemented, the Framework will:

Position Canada as a global health leader: it is the first-ever health strategy in the world that tackles environment and health;

Result in reduced health care costs, improved access to care, lower wait times and hospitalizations;

Address health disparities in partnership with First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities to lower their respective rates of lung disease;

Result in earlier diagnosis of lung disease, more respiratory health professionals, as well as better tools to treat, prevent and manage lung disease as a means to lowering the cost burden on the health care system.

Here is where the parties stand on improving the lung health of Canadians:

The Conservative Party of Canada has made a platform commitment to using creative measures to tackle lung disease;

The Liberal Party of Canada commits, in their questionnaire response, to supporting the objectives of the Framework and to continuing consultations with stakeholders;

The New Democratic Party of Canada commit, in their questionnaire response, to supporting funding for the Framework;

The Green Party of Canada commits, in their questionnaire response, to supporting funding for the Framework;

The Bloc Québecois opposes funding a national action plan for lung health, suggesting instead that more money be provided for the provinces in order to address health care needs in their respective jurisdictions.

All parties were unanimous in committing to stronger action on the environment and to increasing research funding into the causes and exacerbations of lung disease.

To view the parties responses to the questionnaire, please visit www.lung.ca/election. Links have also been provided on the website to the respective party platforms.

For information on the National Lung Health Framework, please visit www.lung.ca/framework.

Established in 1900, The Lung Association is one of Canada's oldest and most respected health charities, and the leading national organization for science-based information, research, education, support programs and advocacy on lung heath issues.