Government must report to Canadians on efforts to combat Ebola

October 21, 2014

“The federal government must take every step necessary to protect the public from the spread of dangerous diseases like Ebola, and it must communicate in an open and transparent way about what it is doing,” said Liberal Health Critic, Dr. Hedy Fry. “Not enough has been done on this front, and that is why Liberals have introduced a motion requiring key government Ministers to regularly testify on specific actions being taken to protect Canadians.”

The Liberal Opposition Day Motion would require the Minister of Health, Minster of Public Safety, and Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer to appear twice monthly before the House of Commons Health Committee and testify on steps being taken to confront the outbreak.

“Canada can and must do more as part of the international effort to combat Ebola, both here at home and on the ground in affected countries,” said Dr. Fry. “I encourage my colleagues in all parties to support our motion before the House of Commons.”

Background:

The Liberal Opposition Day Motion is as follows:

That the House recognize the devastation that Ebola is wreaking in Western Africa and the serious threat to public health that the virus could pose to Canada; and call on the Minister of Health, the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada, and the Minister of Public Safety to appear before the Standing Committee on Health twice monthly to report on Canada’s efforts at home and abroad to ensure that the outbreak does not pose a threat to the health and safety of Canadians.