Remove Barriers to Rural Medicine: Hyer
Hyer tables Motion M-289 to defer medical resident debt repayment until training is completed
February 6, 2012
OTTAWA – MP Bruce Hyer (Thunder Bay-Superior North) is calling on the federal government to remove barriers to health care accessibility for rural and Northern residents. Health Canada estimated that the population-to-doctor ratio in rural Canada will swell to over three times the national average by 2020.
"All Canadians deserve adequate access to health care, no matter where they live,” said Hyer, after meeting with representatives of the Canadian Federation of Medical Students (CFMS) in Ottawa. “Unless something is done now, by the end of the decade rural Canadians are going to have a much harder time accessing quality care.”
In the 2011 federal Budget, a new program was announced to forgive a portion of Canada Student Loans for new family physicians working in rural and remote communities. This was a step in the right direction, but the value of this incentive is limited. New graduates must start to pay off their loans during medical residency training, before they are eligible for the loan forgiveness. Often, more than $100,000 must be borrowed to pay for studies.
CFMS President Noura Hassan said in a release “We are requesting that the government defer repayment of these loans until the completion of medical residency training. This would more effectively attract new medical graduates to rural and remote communities and better serve the needs of Canadians.”
Thunder Bay native and CFMS Representative for Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Sean Bryan, said “We are fortunate to have a new medical school in Northern Ontario that is accountable to the cultural and demographic diversity of the area it serves. However, the challenge of increasing recruitment of family physicians in rural and remote areas is not unique to Northern Ontario. We must strive to ensure that the principle of accessible health care is realized throughout our country. As the national voice for Canada’s future physicians, we are calling on the government to embrace these simple, sensible strategies.”
Hyer said “I have introduced Motion M-289 in Parliament to defer the start of repayment of Canada Student Loans for medical students until the end of their training period. Because medical students from rural areas are the ones that are most likely to return to those rural areas to work – and they tend to need more loans – this simple measure will help rural Canadians have access to a doctor."
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Hyer Introduces Legislation to Cut Passport Fees
Motion would spur tourism & trade with the United States, MP says
February 2, 2012
TOTTAWA — Thunder Bay-Superior North Member of Parliament Bruce Hyer has introduced legislation calling on the government of Canada to negotiate a joint reduction in passport fees with the United States, in order to boost tourism between the two countries.
“Cutting passport fees would encourage tourism in Canada from the United States, and would make it easier for Canadians to travel,” Hyer said. “We’ve seen a steep drop in US tourists visiting Canada in recent years: a decline of 20% since 2005. There are many reasons for this, but one is the added cost of mandatory passports.”
Hyer noted that 80% of tourist visitors to Canada still come from the United States, yet only about a third of Americans hold passports. It can cost up to $135 to obtain a passport in the US, a significant cost for a family wishing to come to Canada for vacations. Canadian passports cost between $87 and $105, but the fee must be paid every 5 years by those wishing to renew their passports.
The motion Hyer introduced reads:
Mr. Hyer (Thunder Bay-Superior North) - That, in the opinion of the House, the government should immediately: (a) initiate negotiations with the United States of America to reduce passport fees in both countries as a way to increase and facilitate tourism; and (b) promote a limited-time, two-for-one passport renewal or new application fee, based on a mutual agreement with the United States.
The motion was based on a resolution passed by 11 US States and 4 Provinces at the 2010 Midwestern Legislators Conference in Toronto, written by former NDP representative to the Conference. A major concern of the border states and provinces was the impact new US rules for mandatory passports would have on cross-border tourism and trade. Some Canadian provinces joined the US in issuing cheaper “passport cards” to promote cross-border tourism, but after three years these have seen little uptake in comparison to regular passports.
“We need to make the existing passport system more accessible. The current fees for passport application and renewal are a barrier for Americans considering travel to Canada, and for Canadians who want to travel abroad,” Hyer said. “Reducing fees and a introducing a two-for-one fee reduction for families would help boost tourism, and benefit both countries’ economies.
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MP Holds Public Consultations on Budget & the Economy
Bruce Hyer invites constituents to participate in Town Halls across the riding
January 31, 2012
THUNDER BAY – Thunder Bay–Superior North MP Bruce Hyer will be touring the riding in February holding public consultations in the lead-up to the upcoming 2012 federal budget.
“My public meetings are meant to give people a chance to tell me their concerns directly about how and where the government is spending their tax dollars.” said Hyer. “Should we be cutting back on Old Age Pensions? Spending money on F-35 fighter jets and megaprisons? Or should our priority be health care, small business, or retraining and EI? I want to hear constituent ideas and opinions - they will inform how I represent local concerns in Ottawa.”
Light refreshments will be served. Mr. Hyer encourages those who can to bring a non-perishable food donation in support of a local agency devoted to helping those in need. For more information ...
Support The Cell Phone Freedom Act
Got a cell phone? If you're like most Canadians, you didn't know you're locked into using only your carrier's network - you can't just switch your phone to another company, even if you're not on a contract. That's because your phone is "network locked" to work only on the cell network of the company you bought it from. This limits your choices as a consumer and restricts competition, resulting in higher prices and worse service.
We can change that with the Cell Phone Freedom Act, which mandates that phones must be unlocked - free of charge - outside of contract whenever a customer requests it.
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Passenger Rail for the Northwest
Thirty years ago, a world-famous passenger rail route passed through Thunder Bay on its way across the spectacular North Shore of Lake Suprerior. It was an important component of the local economy and a vital transport link for thousands of tourists and residents. Unfortunately, it was cut in 1990, despite being one of VIA’s busiest train routes at the time.
At a time of cutbacks to passenger bus service, rising fuel costs in the region, and when local towns are trying to diversify their economies, a passenger rail transport option for people and businesses just makes sense. Join the campaign to Revive Superior Rail.
Read Jack Layton's Last Letter to Canadians
Dear Friends,
Tens of thousands of Canadians have written to me in recent weeks to wish me well. I want to thank each and every one of you for your thoughtful, inspiring and often beautiful notes, cards and gifts. Your spirit and love have lit up my home, my spirit, and my determination.
Unfortunately my treatment has not worked out as I hoped. So I am giving this letter to my partner Olivia to share with you in the circumstance in which I cannot continue... Read more of Layton's final letter...
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