Photo: Discussing options for a national pharmacare plan with Nepean constituents, at my townhall event in the Walter Baker Sportsplex.

Pharmacare: A plan for all Canadians

It was my pleasure to host a townhall event on Pharmacare, September 20 at the Walter Baker Sportsplex.

As Canadian’s we’re proud of our publicly-funded, universal medicare system—one that’s based on an individuals’ need and not on their ability to pay. However, when one in four Canadians can’t afford to fill or finish a prescription, it’s clear something needs to change.

Our government has launched an Advisory Council on the Implementation of National Pharmacare. Over the last couple months Canadians have been invited to share their ideas on a plan that will best benefit the entire country. Consultations are now closed—the Advisory Council is expected to submit their report by spring 2019.

Photo: With Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice, Arif Virani, at my townhall event on amendments to the Divorce Act at the Manordale-Woodvale Community Centre. These are the first substantial proposed changes to the Act in more than 20 years.

Putting the Best Interests of Children First—Divorce Act

I held a townhall on legislation to strengthen and modernize Canada’s family justice system. The event took place at Manordale-Woodvale Communtiy Centre on September 28. It was a pleasure to have Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice, Arif Virani in to speak about the updated Divorce Act.

Census 2016 found that more than two million children were living in separated or divorced families. More than five million Canadians separated or divorced between 1991 and 2011, and among those, 38 per cent had a child together at the time.

This legislation proposes new measures to strengthen and modernize Canada’s family justice system, so that it works for today’s families. The four key objectives of this legislation are to promote the best interests of the child, address family violence, reduce child poverty, and make Canada’s family justice system more accessible and efficient.