Mike Duffy talks abortion access in 1st words since return

Mike Duffy has been publicly silent for the better part of two and a half years,assiduously avoiding inquiring reporters until Wednesday.

The independent P.E.I. senator showed up at the Senate's legal and constitutional affairs committee to jointhe group of senators studying the government's assisted-dying legislation. He waited patiently to speak, for more than two hours, and was then given the floor by the chair, Conservative Senator Bob Runciman.

He opted to ask aquestion of Health Minister Jane Philpottand to voice his support for expanding abortion access in the province he represents.

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"Minister, I'll make this quick because I know you're on a tight time schedule.I represent Prince Edward Island and there, womenin P.E.I.have, for some time, had concerns about access to full medical facilities, medical services for women. That's recently changed, and that's a good thing," Duffy said.

"Have you thought ... about what mechanisms the federal government might have, i.e. the Canada Health Act, cash, money, to ensure that this service you're proposing will be available everywhere in Canada?"

Duffy speaks, voices support for abortion, physician-assisted dying

8 years ago

Duration 1:28

The P.E.I. Senator spoke for the first time publicly in nearly two and a half years.

Philpott praised the question as "excellent," and notedabortion access on P.E.I. is an appropriate comparison to the future availability of physician-assisted dying should the Liberals' bill C-14 pass.

Compelprovinces to provide assisted-dying

She also implied the federal government could compelprovinces to provide the serviceto residents through thepower of the purse. "The biggest mechanism we have is the fact that the Canada Health Act requires the upholding of a number of principles, including accessibility.

"The Canada Health Transfer, as you're also aware, isdependent upon assuming that provinces and territories uphold the Canada Health Act and all of its provisions. That certainlywould apply in this case," she said.

Indeed, there are provisions within the Canada Health Act that allow the federal government to withhold funding to provinces that do not adhere to the five criteria of the act: public administration, comprehensiveness, universality, portabilityand accessibility.

Physician-assisted dying would likely fall under the comprehensiveness component, which mandates provincespay for all medically necessaryprocedures or risk having money held back.

Duffy, who is not a member of this particular Senate committee, is still entitled to ask a question as a senator in good standing.

Justice Charles Vaillancourt dismissed all 31 criminal charges against Duffy related to his Senate expenses last month, clearing the way for his return to the Senate.

New Senate "government liaison"

8 years ago

Duration 6:53

Senator Grant Mitchell spoke with Power and Politics host Rosemary Barton about his new role as independent "whip" in the Red Chamber.