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Sat. Mar. 26 at 2:00pm Meeting re Kirsty Duncan's Campaign
Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2011 1:55 pm
by Chrystal
IMPORTANT, PLEASE READ, POST AND COME OUT IN SUPPORT!!!
***CALLING ON VOLUNTEERS FOR KIRSTY DUNCAN'S CAMPAIGN***
“First Volunteers Meeting tomorrow, Saturday March 26, at 2:00pm at the new Campaign Office. The office is located at 2141 Kipling Ave., inside the Giant Tiger Plaza on Kipling Ave and Taber Rd. We urge you to come to this meeting so we can hit the ground running and begin this campaign together!”
Fellow MSers/CCSVIers - Kirsty Duncan's tireless support and work on our behalf has been a Godsend.
Please spread the word and let's round up as much support for the campaign to get Kirsty re-elected. Canada needs people like Kirsty Duncan to represent Canadians in Parliament.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Etobicoke-North Election Campaign Team
Dear Volunteers,
I hope you're all ready to roll up your sleeves and get out your walking shoes, because we are heading into an Election Campaign! Let's get out the vote and help re-elect Dr. Kirsty Duncan as our Member of Parliament in Etobicoke-North!
For those of you who haven't heard, Harper's Conservative government was brought down today after Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff put forth a motion of non-confidence in a government that was held in contempt of Parliament by a parliamentary committee earlier this week. Kirsty, along with her Liberal colleagues successfully voted to overturn the Harper minority government this afternoon.
The Harper Conservatives have lost the confidence of the House of Commons, and we are entering an Election Campaign!
We are holding our first Volunteers Meeting tomorrow, Saturday March 26, at 2:00pm at the new Campaign Office. The office is located at 2141 Kipling Ave., inside the Giant Tiger Plaza on Kipling Ave and Taber Rd. We urge you to come to this meeting so we can hit the ground running and begin this campaign together!
For the past 3 years, Kirsty has been working tirelessly for the constituents of Etobicoke-North, and now it's time for us to get out and help her! Please come out tomorrow and show your support for the wonderful work that Kirsty has done in the riding and let's send her to Ottawa for a second term this May!
Feel free to contact me for any further information, as I will be working as the Volunteer Coordinator for Kirsty's Campaign Team.
Looking forward to meeting you soon,
Veena Bhullar
Volunteer Coordinator
Dr. Kirsty Duncan's Campaign Team
416-903-9709
Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2011 3:00 pm
by Blaze
I wish I lived in Kirsty's riding. Good Luck!
Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2011 5:24 pm
by Chrystal
Me too, Blaze!
For those who can't make tomorrow's meeting, please don't let that stop you from finding out how you can help get Kirsty Duncan re-elected!!
Here is the contact info for the Volunteer Coordinator of Kirsty's Campaign Team. Thank you.
Veena Bhullar
Volunteer Coordinator
Dr. Kirsty Duncan's Campaign Team
Tel.: 416-903-9709
E-Mail: vbhullar@oyl.org
Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2011 7:10 pm
by Jugular
Can I vote for her instead of the candidates running in my riding?
Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2011 12:57 am
by Johnson
Chrystal,
Thanks for typing in bold font!
Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2011 11:06 pm
by Chrystal
Jugular - I wish I could do the same. The candidates in my riding didn't even respond to my letters re CCSVI.
You're welcome, Johnson!
Kirsty Duncan's Campaign Update - March 26
Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2011 11:11 pm
by Chrystal
KIRSTY DUNCAN'S CAMPAIGN UPDATE – March 26
There are ways that we can help Kirsty Duncan's Campaign. Please read to see how you can support this amazing Angel of a Lady/MP/fellow Canadian who has been fighting for us so tirelessly - even as so many others turned their backs on us and have been fighting just as hard against us.
Dr. Kirsty Duncan’s Campaign Office
2141 Kipling Ave. (& Redcliff), North of Rexdale, South of Albion
Inside the Giant Tiger Plaza
OFFICE HOURS will likely be:
Mon-Fri: 9am – 9pm or 10pm
Sat: 9am – 5pm
Sun: 12pm – 5pm
VOLUNTEERING:
Veena Bhullar
Volunteer Coordinator, Dr. Kirsty Duncan’s Campaign Team
Tel.: 416-903-9709
E-Mail: vbhullar@oyl.org
VOLUNTEERS CAN ASSIST:
- In the campaign office in the mornings, afternoons, evenings.
- Going door-to-door canvassing in the morning, afternoon, evening.
- Handing out fliers
- Putting signs up throughout the riding (Etobicoke-North)
- Answering phones
- Phoning residents in the riding (this can also be done from home by volunteers who cannot come to the campaign office)
- Fundraising, donations. Please make cheques payable to: Kirsty Duncan Campaign. Cheques should be mailed to Kirsty Duncan’s Constituency Office:
Dr. Kirsty Duncan
Constituency Office
815 Albion Road
Etobicoke, ON
M9V 1A3
Tel: (416) 747-6003
Fax: (416) 747-8295
***N.B.: High School students can get credit for their volunteer hours for “Community Service”***
Please contact Veena to find out how else you can help. Thank you.
Veena Bhullar (Volunteer Coordinator)
Tel.: 416-903-9709
E-Mail: vbhullar@oyl.org
Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2011 3:38 am
by 1eye
I think voting where she is not running would just waste your vote. Vote party if you want her leader in power.
'Strategic voting' never worked for me. Think Liberal.
Election Direction...as posted by a fellow MSer
Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 7:27 pm
by Chrystal
The election raises many issues for Canadians – the economy, the general state of healthcare, our future as a country, the way our government is run etc. For MS sufferers there is the added burden of the discrimination that we face because we have been labeled “MS”. We have an opportunity in the next six weeks to include the issue of access to testing and treatment for CCSVI to the election agenda. We need to make our voices heard in a loud but united way. The document “Election Direction” sets out some of the steps that MS sufferers, their families and friends can take to make our voices heard in the election and it includes sample questions to direct to candidates. Let’s pull together to improve our quality of life.
ELECTION DIRECTION
1. Find the constituency office (for sitting MPs) or campaign offices of candidates and contact information – telephone, fax, email, website, facebook page etc., in your riding.
2. Find the name and contact information for the campaign manager or volunteer coordinator for each candidate.
3. Find out if the candidates support testing and treatment for CCSVI in Canada with or without clinical trials (see attached sample questions)
4. Provide the information you find to MSers and their families and friends in your riding and try to organize them, if they wish and can do so, into volunteering to work for the candidate who supports testing and treatment – helping at the campaign office, making telephone calls, distributing flyers, offering to drive people to polling stations on election day etc. Campaign donations help as well and are needed.
5. This is an important activity because the press covers these events: attend Town Hall meetings, candidates’ meetings. At Town Hall meetings and candidates’ meetings try to have enough people attend so that each one can ask a question. Sample questions are attached or devise your own to reflect local thinking.
6. Write to local newspapers in support of your candidate, call into radio and TV talk shows to discuss CCSVI and discrimination against MS sufferers.
SHARE INFORMATION ON FACEBOOK, WEBSITES, BLOGS, THROUGH EMAIL
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
1. Dr. Michael Ignatieff, Leader of the Liberal Party in Canada , has stated publicly (e.g., in an interview with the Globe and Mail, 16 December 2010) that a Liberal Government would launch clinical trials that include testing of and treatment for CCSVI in MS sufferers.
Will a [Conservative, NDP, Bloc, Green] Government make the same commitment? Will your party commit to launching these clinical trials within the first 90 days of forming a government?
2. Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency or CCSVI is a vascular condition characterized by venous malformations primarily the jugular veins and the azygous vein in the chest. The malformations in the veins restrict normal blood flow causing iron deposits in the brains of MS sufferers. People with MS in Canada are denied access to testing for and treatment of this vascular condition because they have MS.
Do you support access to testing and treatment for CCSVI for MS sufferers?
Does your party support this access?
3. Studies conducted in other countries using the techniques for testing and treatment pioneered by Dr. Paolo Zamboni have confirmed his conclusions finding that up to 93% of the MS sufferers participating in the studies showed venous malformations of the jugulars or jugulars and azygous veins (for example, Dr. M. Mehta et al, New York; Dr. M. Al-omari, Jordan). These studies have also confirmed significant clinical improvement in the participants regarding fatigue, mental clarity and physical mobility. The evidence is not anecdotal and the science has been confirmed. (Science presented in March at the annual meeting of the International Society for Neurological and Vascular Disease – ISNVD))
Will you explain why the federal government continues to deny access to testing and treatment of CCSVI for MS sufferers?
Will you explain why the federal government continues to deny the existence of the science?
4. Canadian MS sufferers are forced to leave Canada to obtain testing and treatment for CCSVI at great personal expense. When they return home they are denied access to follow-up care by Canadian doctors.
Will your party, if it forms a government, contact the College of Physicians and Surgeons in each province and insist that MS sufferers who have been treated for CCSVI receive follow-up care from Canadian doctors?
Will you ensure with the College of Physicians and Surgeons in each province that doctors who provide follow-up care do so without fear of reprisal from the College or their peers?
5. Disease modifying drugs are available to MS sufferers with relapsing-remitting MS at a cost of $20,000.00 or more a year. The drugs all have serious side effects. As of 4 March 2011 Tysabri has been linked to causing permanent brain infection in 102 people and 21 deaths. Tysabri has been approved by Health Canada and is funded by provincial healthcare at approximately $40,000.00 per year. The newest drug, Gilenya, causes, among many other side effects, a permanently slowed heart rate. Gilenya has been approved by Health Canada and is already funded by provincial healthcare or will be at approximately $48,000.00 per year. All of these drugs treat MS as an autoimmune disease – a theory that has not been proven. Testing and treatment for CCSVI is estimated at $1,500.00 to $2,000.00.
Why is angioplasty, a safe, well-known, low-risk treatment, denied to MS sufferers but drugs with potentially fatal side effects, are approved by Health Canada and promoted by MS neurologists?
Do you support public money being used to fund the use of drugs with potentially fatal side effects when a less expensive, safe option to improve the quality of life for MS sufferers is available?
Note: Always check the latest statistics for Tysabri because they change every month and not for the better.[/b]
Re: Election Direction...as posted by a fellow MSer
Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 4:45 am
by bretzke
Chrystal wrote:5. Disease modifying drugs are available to MS sufferers with relapsing-remitting MS at a cost of $20,000.00 or more a year. The drugs all have serious side effects. As of 4 March 2011 Tysabri has been linked to causing permanent brain infection in 102 people and 21 deaths. Tysabri has been approved by Health Canada and is funded by provincial healthcare at approximately $40,000.00 per year. The newest drug, Gilenya, causes, among many other side effects, a permanently slowed heart rate. Gilenya has been approved by Health Canada and is already funded by provincial healthcare or will be at approximately $48,000.00 per year. All of these drugs treat MS as an autoimmune disease – a theory that has not been proven. Testing and treatment for CCSVI is estimated at $1,500.00 to $2,000.00.
Chrystal-
Is there any way to firm up the estimate for CCSVI testing and treatment? At $1,500 to $2,000 for diagnosis and treatment, the savings to Canada's health care system could be huge if CCSVI treatment replaced current drug therapies.
What politician wouldn't support a cost saving treatment?
Brian
Re: Election Direction...as posted by a fellow MSer
Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 6:35 am
by PCakes
bretzke wrote:Chrystal wrote:5. Disease modifying drugs are available to MS sufferers with relapsing-remitting MS at a cost of $20,000.00 or more a year. The drugs all have serious side effects. As of 4 March 2011 Tysabri has been linked to causing permanent brain infection in 102 people and 21 deaths. Tysabri has been approved by Health Canada and is funded by provincial healthcare at approximately $40,000.00 per year. The newest drug, Gilenya, causes, among many other side effects, a permanently slowed heart rate. Gilenya has been approved by Health Canada and is already funded by provincial healthcare or will be at approximately $48,000.00 per year. All of these drugs treat MS as an autoimmune disease – a theory that has not been proven. Testing and treatment for CCSVI is estimated at $1,500.00 to $2,000.00.
Chrystal-
Is there any way to firm up the estimate for CCSVI testing and treatment? At $1,500 to $2,000 for diagnosis and treatment, the savings to Canada's health care system could be huge if CCSVI treatment replaced current drug therapies.
What politician wouldn't support a cost saving treatment?
Brian
IMO Brian, the math will be challenged. Dr McDonald was quoted as saying the cost of one-time treatment would be approx $1500.00. The naysayer will challenge this as it does not take into consideration multiple treatments, follow-up care, training of technicians, new imaging equipment, increased numbers, i.e. family, that will justifiably be looking for proactive imaging and treatment and the strain on the health system to keep up.
To me the costs are irrelevant. The rights to relief of symptoms, cure or not, is the point.
p.s. Chrystal.. great post!!
p.p.s.
Vote LIBERAL!!
1.
Dr. Michael Ignatieff, Leader of the Liberal Party in Canada , has stated publicly (e.g., in an interview with the Globe and Mail, 16 December 2010) that a Liberal Government would launch clinical trials that include testing of and treatment for CCSVI in MS sufferers.
Re: Election Direction...as posted by a fellow MSer
Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 12:24 pm
by bretzke
PCakes wrote:
IMO Brian, the math will be challenged. Dr McDonald was quoted as saying the cost of one-time treatment would be approx $1500.00. The naysayer will challenge this as it does not take into consideration multiple treatments, follow-up care, training of technicians, new imaging equipment, increased numbers, i.e. family, that will justifiably be looking for proactive imaging and treatment and the strain on the health system to keep up.
To me the costs are irrelevant. The rights to relief of symptoms, cure or not, is the point.
PCakes-
I argue that costs are highly relevant. If we wait for clinical trials to prove CCSVI treatment effectiveness "beyond a reasonable doubt", it could take years.
We can show potential cost effectiveness today. In the U.S., for profit clinics are offering CCSVI diagnosis and treatment from $7,500-$12,000. Using the $7,500 cost, a pwms could receive four CCSVI procedures each year ($30,000) for less than one year of Gilenya ($48,000).
Why are U.S. insurance companies approving CCSVI treatments? They see the potential cost savings of CCSVI treatments over traditional drug therapies.
Brian
Re: Election Direction...as posted by a fellow MSer
Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 1:22 pm
by PCakes
bretzke wrote:PCakes wrote:
IMO Brian, the math will be challenged. Dr McDonald was quoted as saying the cost of one-time treatment would be approx $1500.00. The naysayer will challenge this as it does not take into consideration multiple treatments, follow-up care, training of technicians, new imaging equipment, increased numbers, i.e. family, that will justifiably be looking for proactive imaging and treatment and the strain on the health system to keep up.
To me the costs are irrelevant. The rights to relief of symptoms, cure or not, is the point.
PCakes-
I argue that costs are highly relevant. If we wait for clinical trials to prove CCSVI treatment effectiveness "beyond a reasonable doubt", it could take years.
We can show potential cost effectiveness today. In the U.S., for profit clinics are offering CCSVI diagnosis and treatment from $7,500-$12,000. Using the $7,500 cost, a pwms could receive four CCSVI procedures each year ($30,000) for less than one year of Gilenya ($48,000).
Why are U.S. insurance companies approving CCSVI treatments? They see the potential cost savings of CCSVI treatments over traditional drug therapies.
Brian
Hi Brian,
I do not disagree with you. In the long term the savings in dollars and QOL will be exponential. Especiallly in the generations to follow that would benefit from early diagnosis.
I only suggest that the math to calculate these savings will be easily debated and that the human right to diagnosis, treatment and relief of symptoms might stand stonger.
I believe we need to push the gov't to step in and shake up healthcare. To review accountablity, who reports to who, ethics and bias. First stop.. CIHR.
Cheers,
pc
Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 9:34 pm
by Chrystal
Hi PCakes and Bretzke,
I cannot take credit for the Election Direction. A dear and amazing MSer friend came up with it.
Costs will definitely be debated. Still, one would hope that in Canada - health, quality of life and wellbeing of citizens are factors that would outweigh the cost issue. I can dream, can't I?
I agree - CIHR and the whole Health Care system needs an overhaul.
Take care and keep well.
Chrystal
KIRSTY DUNCAN'S CAMPAIGN KICK-OFF THURS. MAR. 31 AT 6PM
Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2011 11:53 am
by Chrystal
PLEASE READ, SPREAD THE WORD, AND COME OUT IN SUPPORT OF KIRSTY DUNCAN!
DR. KIRSTY DUNCAN'S CAMPAIGN KICK-OFF IS TOMORROW AT 6PM
Thursday, March 31st at 6:00 p.m.
At Kirsty Duncan’s Campaign Office
2141 Kipling Ave. (& Redcliff), North of Rexdale, South of Albion
Inside the Giant Tiger Plaza
Please spread the word and round up as many people as you can to be there in support of Kirsty!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We all want Dr. Kirsty Duncan re-elected in the May 2nd Election. How can we help make this happen? There are ways!!!
Please contact the Volunteer Coordinator of Kirsty's Campaign Team to find out how you can help. Thank you.
Veena Bhullar
Volunteer Coordinator
Dr. Kirsty Duncan’s Campaign Team
Tel.: 416-903-9709
E-Mail: vbhullar@oyl.org
N.B.: High School students can get credit for their volunteer hours for “Community Service”.
WAYS VOLUNTEERS CAN ASSIST:
- Phoning residents in the Etobicoke-North riding (this can be done from volunteer’s home).
- In the Campaign Office in the mornings, afternoons, evenings.
- Going door-to-door canvassing in the morning, afternoon, evenings.
- Handling out fliers.
- Putting signs up.
- Fundraising, Donations. Please make cheques payable to Kirsty Duncan Campaign. Cheques should be mailed to Kirsty Duncan’s Constituency Office:
Dr. Kirsty Duncan
Constituency Office
815 Albion Road
Etobicoke, ON
M9V 1A3
Tel.: 416-747-6003
Fax: 416-747-8295
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please contact the Volunteer Coordinator of Kirsty's Campaign Team to find out how you can help. Thank you.
Veena Bhullar
Volunteer Coordinator
Dr. Kirsty Duncan’s Campaign Team
Tel.: 416-903-9709
E-Mail: vbhullar@oyl.org