Niagara Falls!

Niagara Falls yesterday! We had initially planned to do some commercial canvassing and rallying at the Clifton Hills area; however, we had got news that the entire area was quite quiet and that rallying there would not be productive at all. Thus, before getting some lunch and rallying at the MPP's office, we were able to enjoy ourselves very briefly by enjoying one of the natural wonders of the world and bonding with each other as the Stop Cuts Student Tour group. How nice of them to plan that for us!

Afterwards, we drove over to the MPP’s office to rally. We received some unexpected news that the MPP there expressed his support for the pharmacy profession and for re-entering negotiations for a better solution to decrease healthcare costs and drug prices. He acknowledges the importance of pharmacists, the vast number of services that they provide and the funding that is allocated to make such healthcare services possible. This really caught us by surprise, as we had not encountered any Liberal MPP who was actually in support of our message against funding cuts to pharmacy services.

What do I feel about his words of support? Mixed feelings. I’m quite pleasantly surprised that he has taken the time to talk to the pharmacists in his local community and understand the role of the pharmacy profession in our health care system. I appreciate how he listens to hundreds of his constituents about their disagreement in the McGuinty government’s decisions. However, I have my reservations about his words. Politicians can play political games after all. I hope Craiter can prove me wrong about my reservations for politicians.

We had again canvassed in his area with a new message – to support their MPP in his effort to drive the McGuinty government back to the drawing board for a better solution to lower healthcare costs. Although we only canvassed for a short while (due to the rain), we managed to reach out to some people and got a few signatures, even if it was not nearly as many as that received in Peterborough or Trenton. However, the primary thing, as with each day of the student tour, is to spread public awareness of the consequences in deteriorating healthcare should these funding cuts be implemented. The pharmacy profession cannot do this alone; it can only be done with the support of Ontario and public support can only be done with public education and awareness.

The following day, I will not be joining the rest of the tour group. I have agreed to travel alone to Hamilton and meet up with one of the inspiring pharmacists (whom I will name M), who had visited us when we arrived in Hamilton (a few days ago). It would be for a TV interview as one of the segments broadcasted on a public affairs show called “For the Record”. Stay tuned for the next entry!