A Newsletter from the Honourable Sharon Carstairs, P.C.
Leader of the Government in the Senate and Minister with Special Responsibility for Palliative Care Senator for Manitoba

Palliative Care

As Minister with Special Responsibility for Palliative Care, I am often asked to speak to different groups and organizations across the country about palliative care and end-of-life issues. I always embrace the opportunity to meet the palliative care community. In particular, I enjoy meeting with the volunteers, dedicated staff and countless others who contribute to quality palliative and end of life care in our country. I am proud of our accomplishments and I feel strongly that we have made these gains by working together.

This fall, I spoke at the Hospice Association of Ontario’s Annual Conference on September 12th in Alliston, ON. I was in excellent company with such accomplished people as June Callwood and Dr. David Kuhl attending the conference.

The next week-end, I was in Newfoundland and Labrador. I spoke to the St. John’s Women’s Network about women and care giving. I also addressed the National Pensioners and Senior Citizens Federation where I spoke about a variety of end of life issues.

Then on September 26th, I was in Winnipeg, to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Hospice Palliative Care Manitoba. I spoke at the closing ceremonies of the 13th Annual Provincial Hospice Palliative Care Conference.

In mid-November I will be participating in the Help the Hospices Annual National Conference in London, England. I will also meet with British government officials on palliative care in that country.

Legislative Update

Before the annual summer recess, the Senate passed many important bills, such as Bill C-28, the budget implementation bill, which contained provisions relating to compassionate care benefits. The Senate also passed Bill C-24, legislation governing the financing of political parties and candidates. The legislation aims to enhance the fairness and transparency of the electoral system in Canada.

This fall, the Senate is examining several government bills such as C-6, An Act to establish the Canadian Center for the Independent Resolution of First Nations Specific Claims and Bill C-25, the Public Service Modernization Act. The Senate is expected to examine many more important initiatives in the coming weeks. Bill C-34, will amend the Parliament of Canada Act to establish the positions of the Senate Ethics Officer and the Ethics Commissioner; and a proposed Code of Conduct for all Parliamentarians. Bill C-17, An Act to amend certain acts of Canada, and to enact measures for implementing the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention, in order to enhance public safety.

The Government’s legislative priorities for next few months will continue to focus on legislation that will help build a better and stronger Canada.

Originally from Lebanon, Senator Harb graduated from the University of Ottawa with his Engineering degree. After a career as an engineer and college professor, Mac Harb’s political career began in municipal politics, as an alderman and Deputy Mayor of the City of Ottawa. In 1988, Senator Harb was elected for the first time to the House of Commons as the Member of Parliament for Ottawa Centre, where he remained until his appointment to the Senate. He was also Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade.

Senator Plamondon has worked for many years in the field of consumer affairs, especially in the financial services, energy, privacy protection and consumer rights sectors. Her work has primarily focused on behalf of the underprivileged, women and the elderly. Since 1974, she heads the Service d’aide au consummateru – Shawinigan, an organization she founded. She also works with a variety of consumer rights organizations. Senator Plamondon and her husband have seven children and reside in Shawinigan, Quebec. Senator Plamondon will sit as an Independent Senator.

A native of New Brunswick, Dr. Trenholme Counsell graduated from Mount Allison University and received a Master of Arts and a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Toronto. She worked in both New Brunswick and Toronto in the provincial departments of health. She later returned to medicine at the Toronto General Hospital and at Sackville Memorial Hospital. She was first elected to the New Brunswick legislature in 1987 and held the position of Minister of State for the Family from 1994 to 1995. In 1997, she was appointed Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick. Senator Trenholme Counsell and her late husband, Kenneth W. Counsell, have two children.