issue 7// vol 46

  

Trying to find common ground

» Leaders try to convince voters in Federal Leaders Debate

Jerrison Oracion
Senior Columnist

 

ith less than a week to go until the

Federal Election this year, many
people are still undecided on who to vote
for. While the parties start to release more
information about their platforms and are
involved in various debates, the public is
still getting more information about their
policies—many are still unsure of who
will win the election. Because the polls are
showing that it is a close race right now,
the undecided voters could determine the
future of the country.

The entire country gets more of

their questions answered and the plans
of party leaders better outlined in the
Federal Leaders Debate on October 7

at the Canadian Museum of History in
Gatineau, Québec. The two-hour debate
is moderated by CTV News at us Lisa
LaFlamme, The National’s Rosemary
Barton, Global News Dawna Friesen,

the Huffington Post Canada, At Issue’s
Althia Raj, and the Toronto Star’s Susan
Delacourt.

All the party leaders were in the
debate including Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau, Conservative Party Leader
Andrew Scheer, NDP Leader Jagmeet
Singh, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May,
Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-Frangois
Blanchet, and People’s Party of Canada
Leader Maxime Bernier.

The party leaders answer questions
from the moderators, the audience,
and from citizens around the country

about leadership, multiculturalism,
Indigenous issues, social equality, and

the environment. Each of the moderators
hosted one segment of the debate. Some
of the interesting moments of the debate
includes Scheer’s opening statements. He
referenced the recent controversy with
Trudeau, and said Trudeau wears various
masks when he talks about issues and does
not fulfill his promises.

When LaFlamme asked Bernier about
some of the offensive tweets that he made,
he explains why he does not regret making
them—and the rest of the party leaders
debated on that point. The issue of Bill
21, a bill in Québec where anyone cannot
wear religious symbols in government
workplaces, is a major topic in the segment
on multiculturalism. Singh said that he

‘It’s your right and your health’

» IMPACTS and the DSU hosts Women’s Rights in Healthcare workshop

Ana Brito
Contributor

 

earning how to navigate the

health system as a woman can bea
complicated process. Not to mention
if you are new to Canada or if you feel
that you are being discriminated against
because of your gender, sex, religion, or
ethnicity. That's why IMPACTS and the
DSU Women’s Collective organized an
informative workshop about women’s
rights in healthcare.

The event took place on October 10 at
the Douglas College Aboriginal Gathering
Place and was led by Casey Vickers,
Coordinator at the Vancouver Women's
Health Collective (VWHC). The VWHC is a
non-profit organization that provides self-
identified women with a safe space to foster
their health and well-being.

Vickers explained that women's bodies
are radically different from men’s—hence

the need for diverse and unique care. The
organizers said that they believe a feminist
approach to advocacy in healthcare is
crucial to provide what every woman
needs.

“You can take up space and time;
it's your right and your health. There's
no 15-minute rule when it comes to your
private time with your doctor,” Vickers
explained.

They emphasized the importance of
being listened to and respected, adding
that you should "focus on your concerns,
they have to respect what you say.” Vickers
also advised that it is your right to know in
detail about the diagnosis, and the doctor
should always explain their reasons behind
every decision made.

The nurse practitioner clinic provides
lots of services such as diagnosis and
treatment of common injuries and
illnesses, prescriptions, gynecological tests,
x-rays, HIV tests, and IUD insertions. They

also provide acupuncture, yoga, Pilates,
and wellness counseling. The VWHC isa
resource for every type of woman—cis and
trans—and non-binary clients, according
to their website.

Vickers highlighted that trans care is
provided at the clinic. They explained that
equity is their start point when it comes to
health.

“When we talk about equity, we talk
about all starting at the same point—we all
deserve to be treated the same way by the
healthcare system. But healthcare doesn't
have to be equal to all, it should address the
specifics of each group and each person."

Because women have a different
biology than men, they sometimes require
different treatments. Women go through
menstruation, pregnancies, menopause,
and many other cycles that need attention.

Vickers also explained how advocacy
is also essential to support other women.
“Women can feel very alone when

news // no. 5

Photo of party leaders via CBC

will not interfere with the bill, and Trudeau
said that he will interfere with it depending
on the results of a court action on the bill.

Another memorable moment is when
May points out that women should be
involved in the conversation, and she is the
only female party leader right now. During
the segment on the environment, Trudeau
and Scheer compared their climate change
plans. Singh came into that conversation by
saying that instead of voting for “Mr. Deny”
or “Mr. Delay,” there is a third choice.

The party leader that won the debate
is up to you to decide. The Federal Leaders
Debate is something that you should watch
before you vote in the Federal Election this
year. You can watch it on the internet—
especially on CPAC’s website, which also
has the press conferences.

  

Photo by Ana Brito

approaching the healthcare system, that's
why you can bring a friend or partner to
help you during the doctor's consultation,"
they added. They said that through
advocacy, we can help to give a voice to
someone in need, but we ensure to never
overstep their ideas and point of view.
The VWHC is located on 29 West
Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC. For
more information their website is www.
womenshealthcollective.ca