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House Hansard - 123

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
November 2, 2022 02:00PM
  • Nov/2/22 2:25:29 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we have heard from parents who are struggling to get pain medication for their kids. They are heartbreaking stories, and that is why Health Canada is taking concrete action to accelerate the flow of pain medication for children. We are working closely with provinces and territories as they work to support and resupply as well. We know this is something that is part of the global disruptions we are facing because of climate change, and the pandemic has left— Some hon. members: Oh, oh!
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  • Nov/2/22 3:13:16 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we advised the Prime Minister of this situation one month ago, but the Prime Minister always has a ready-made excuse to justify his inability to take action. As a grandfather, I get upset thinking about young children who are ill. One month ago, he asked Health Canada to do something so that mothers and fathers can access medication for their children, medication that children will want to take. Why is the Prime Minister once again making excuses to avoid providing the medications that sick children need?
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  • Nov/2/22 4:45:17 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I think all parents would agree that the matter I am about to raise is indeed an emergency. Across this country, there have been shortages of medications required for pain relief by small infants and babies. Children's Tylenol, ibuprofen and other medicines are necessary to relieve the often intense pain that young children feel during sickness, teething or other conditions. It has come to be expected that one could go to a local drug store to get these medications. Unfortunately, in Canada, that has not been the case. There have been shortages right across the country. We raised this matter a month ago. The good news is that in the United States, they do not appear to have this problem. We did check online today and found it was easy to order these medicines, but an American address is needed to get them. The American shelves are stocked, but here in Canada the shelves are empty. I want to thank the hon. member for Fort McMurray—Cold Lake who brought this to my attention. She was the one who first alerted me to this crisis. She is a young parent. I am a parent, although not a young one. We were lucky last night. My little one needed children's Tylenol. We had a few pills left, but I cannot imagine what kind of night it would have been for her and us if we had run out. On behalf of parents right across the country, Conservatives are seeking an emergency debate on how Canada could restore its supply chains and supply parents and children with these necessary medications that are available in other countries, but for some reason that the Prime Minister still cannot explain are not available here in Canada.
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