Government Relations & Advocacy
Through
government and community relations efforts, the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada,
Manitoba Division works to ensure that everyone with MS in Manitoba
has the opportunity to participate fully in all aspects of life.
It endeavours to change government policies, private industry
practices and public attitudes in ways that will benefit Manitobans
affected by MS.
Growing Government Relationships
The Manitoba Division is pleased that the newly appointed Manitoba Minister of Labour and Immigration and Minister Responsible for Persons with Disabilities, Jennifer Howard, responded favourably to our request for a meeting to discuss particular issues faced by Manitobans living with MS. Minister Howard met with MS Society staff on January 21 to discuss the consideration of the inclusion of Tysabri onto the Manitoba Drug Benefits Formulary and access to treatment from outside the city centre. The one hour meeting with the Minister and her advisors was very informative and highly productive.
Tax Credit for Caregivers
Are you a primary caregiver for a family member or other person needing care? You may be eligible for a $1,020 tax credit from the Government of Manitoba. For more information, please visit http://www.gov.mb.ca/finance/tao/caregiver.html
To download an application for this tax credit, visit http://www.gov.mb.ca/finance/tao/pdf/caregiver/application.pdf
Areas
of Interest:
Accessibility
The Social Action Committee
has made improving accessibility for all one of its priorities.
It is currently working with several other organizations to
develop a program that will assess the accessibility of businesses
and services. It has also participated in consultations on accessibility
and has written to both government and private business to express
concerns about access problems. This section contains some of
the letters we have sent on this issue.
Housing
Housing has been a priority
of the Social Action Committee for some time. In particular,
we have been working, together with several other organizations,
to provide community-based supported housing for younger adults
with significant care needs as an alternative to placement in
a personal care home. We are also concerned about the availability
of affordable accessible housing, the promotion of Visit-Able
housing and the provision of funding for the disability supports
people need to enable them to continue living independently.
Some of these activities are reflected in the documents listed
in this link.
Transportation
Availability
of accessible public transportation is a concern of many people
living with MS. Here you will find examples of how we have expressed
our concerns about this issue.
Drug
Cost Reimbursement
Since
it was established, the Manitoba Social Action Committee has
worked to achieve drug cost reimbursement for new MS disease-modifying
drugs through the provincial Pharmacare program. Thanks to our
efforts four drugs for the treatment of relapsing-remitting
MS and one for secondary progressive MS have been added to the
provincial formulary. Similar campaigns have been successfully
undertaken by MS Society divisions across the country. Here
you will find a documentation of some of our efforts on this
issue over the years.
Income Support
Income support and employment
concerns have been an important aspect of our activities since
the committee was first set up. Currently our focus is to support
efforts being undertaken by the MS Society National Government
Relations Committee to improve both the disability tax credit
and Canada Pension Plan (Disability) benefit. We have also presented
education sessions on income support and employment issues both
for people living with MS and for officials whose decisions
affect them, such as CPP(D) medical adjudicators and insurance
underwriters who assess long-term disability and life insurance
claims. This link illustrates some of our efforts on this issue.
Social
Action Documents
Read about what we're doing. As part of our social action
activities, the MS Society of Canada, Manitoba Division provides
information and opinions to provincial and municipal governments
on issues of concern to Manitobans affected by MS. Click above
for a list of some of the documents we have prepared and submitted.
For
more information contact:
Darell Hominuk
Director, Client Services and Government Relations
darell.hominuk@mssociety.ca
 |
