Cancer Society sends Harper a message-scented bouquet
All MPs receive daffodils as a reminder of Conservatives' $216-million promise
Prime Minister Stephen Harper received a lovely bouquet of daffodils yesterday, along with a card of thanks.
But the daffodils -- the symbol of hope of the Canadian Cancer Society -- also carried an implicit and stern message: Follow through on your promise or face the wrath of the powerful cancer community.
During the recent election campaign, the Conservatives pledged $260-million to finance and implement the Canadian strategy for cancer control.
The Liberals and NDP also backed the plan, so their leaders, Bill Graham and Jack Layton, also received bouquets. All 308 MPs got a single daffodil each.
Full-page colour ads touting the strategy also appeared yesterday in major newspapers, including The Globe and Mail.
"We wanted the government and opposition parties to know that this is something that should be dealt with expeditiously," Barbara Whylie, CEO of the Canadian Cancer Society, said in an interview.
"We think the cancer strategy -- which has broad public and political support -- should be one of the priorities of the new government."
Dr. Whylie said support and funds for the strategy, which was drawn up by 31 cancer agencies, should be included in the upcoming Throne Speech and federal budget.
In 2005, an estimated 68,300 Canadians died of cancer. This year, cancer is expected to become the country's No. 1 killer, surpassing cardiovascular disease.
The proposed cancer strategy calls for far better co-ordination of cancer prevention and treatment programs, as well as investments in prevention, research, screening, treatment, support and palliative care. It also calls for the establishment of firm targets for reducing the number of diagnosed cases and deaths from specific cancers.
The strategy was hammered out in 2002 and has the backing of virtually all major cancer groups in the country, but political support and government funds for the initiative have been more difficult to secure.
But, in recent years, the cause was taken up by former Conservative health critic (and now minister of state for health) Steven Fletcher. Tomorrow at the National Cancer Leadership Forum in Gatineau, Que., Mr. Fletcher is being honoured for his activism.
According to the coalition that prepared the strategy, it is needed because, if current trends continue, cancer will cause immeasurable suffering for Canadians and will take a significant toll on the economy.
It is estimated that, over the next three decades, almost six million Canadians will be diagnosed with cancer; about three million Canadians will die from cancer; direct cancer health-care costs will be more than $176-billion; and over $248-billion in tax revenues will be lost because of disability due to cancer.
The coalition argues that, if fully implemented, the strategy can have an important impact over the next 30 years, including preventing over 1.2 million Canadians from developing cancer; saving the lives of more than 420,000; saving more than $39-billion in direct health-care costs; and preventing the loss of more than $101-billion in wage-based productivity.
Dr. Whylie said that while the strategy appears to have strong support in both government and opposition, a lot of work remains to be done on how it will be implemented.
"Clearly, discussions need to happen and decisions need to be made, and the sooner that happens, the better," she said. "If we don't act now, cancer is only going to get worse."