MP Don Davies plays an important parliamentary role as the NDP Health Critic in the course of the pandemic. On this episode, Don and Nate discuss the importance of working across party lines, recent work together on the TRIPS waiver, and the need to put partisanship aside and deliver evidence-based drug policy reform to save lives.
You can read the letter calling our government to support the TRIPS waiver here, signed by over 80 parliamentarians from all parties.
Don and Nate are also co-chairs of the cannabis caucus together, alongside Conservative MP Scott Reid.
NDP MP Don Davies (Vancouver-Kingsway, B.C.) noted media reports about the lack of enforcement of quarantine rules have been circulating in recent weeks, specifically in Calgary, one of the four airports that international flights have been limited to landing in.
NDP MP Don Davies, health critic, said the development was “disturbing and disappointing.”
“It’s important to bear in mind that people have a right to due process,” said Davies. But Davies said “it’s yet another unfortunate example of the epidemic of sexual harassment and sexual assault in the armed forces.
NDP health critic Don Davies said Canada needs to return the COVAX doses immediately.
"When they first decided to do it there was an immediate reaction from all sorts of sources," he said. "It didn't make sense then and it's case closed now."
NDP health critic Don Davies said he worries Canadians are increasingly becoming cynical about politicians who promise things, such as pharmacare, during elections and then don’t follow through.
“They continue to tell Canadians that they believe in pharmacare, yet opportunity after opportunity after opportunity to act on that promise passes.”
NDP health critic Don Davies said it’s time vaccine advice be streamlined into one avenue to prevent hesitancy and confusion.
“First of all, I got the AstraZeneca shot too so I’ve got these questions as well. I think it’s important to note that Canadians are really tired and they’re hurt,” he said. “I’d like to see the federal government, NACI, and Health Canada speak with one voice, we can’t have any more of these contradictions and confusion.”
NDP MP Don Davies noted how rare it is for MPs from all parties to unite on an issue. He said the MPs call on Canada to “immediately support” the waiving of intellectual property trade rules that “are working to prevent countries from producing COVID vaccines.”
Millions of Canadians cannot afford to go to the dentist and the federal health critic wants Ottawa to do something about it.
The NDP tabled a private members motion Tuesday in the House of Commons, asking the federal government to establish a dental-care plan for uninsured Canadian families who have a household income of less than $90,000.