Little Lunch Boxes

From the back of the van…

Charlotte: Are we going to Goddess & Poppa’s?
Me: No. Goddess is at work.
Charlotte: Oh. Is Poppa all alone?
Me: Yep.
Charlotte: Ohhhhh pooooor Poppa!
Me: Yeah, poor Poppa.
Charlotte: That’s okay. Poppa is gonna get kids soon.
Me: No, he’s already got kids.
Charlotte: No, Goddess is going to grow a baby in her belly.
Me: No. She already did.
Charlotte: Who? You?
Me: Yep.
Charlotte: (hysterical laughter)

When meeting Dalton McGuinty at the press release for Birth Centres back in March, he shook Hannah’s hand & said he wanted to read her letters. She was given a card with an email address for the “Special Assistant to the Premier”. He told her to write to him about anything she wanted, maybe her favourite toy or book, and he would write her back. She couldn’t help rolling her eyes at the “favourite toy or book” suggestion, but thanked him for the card, and sent her previous letters about pay equity for midwives & her support of birthing centres to the address on the card. 

Today we heard back. Again, it wasn’t from McGuinty, and again, it was a form letter. Hannah is livid. She says it’s obvious that its a form letter right from the beginning because they didn’t even bother to address her as Hannah, they called her “Sir/Madam” & that once again they didn’t even answer any of her questions. She is also rather annoyed that someone else is sending her a form letter. She addressed it to McGuinty! Why is someone else reading his mail?! 

She’s planning on writing this person back to ask them to “introduce themselves to her properly” & to ask why they are answering McGuinty’s mail. She also wants to write McGuinty back because he still hasn’t answered her! 

Below is the letter she received today:

Minister of Health Ottawa, Canada K1A 0K9

Dear Sir/Madam:

Thank you for your correspondence concerning access to midwifery services.

Health care is a shared responsibility between the Government of Canada and the provinces and territories. The federal government’s role in health includes setting and administering national principles for the health care system through the Canada Health Act and providing financial support to the provinces and territories.

The provinces and territories are responsible for the education, licensing, hiring and retention of their health care work force, including midwives. The federal government is committed to working collaboratively with the provinces and territories to ensure that we continue to have strong, universally accessible and equitable publicly funded health care system that promotes the effective use of available resources to meet the current and future health care needs of Canadians. 

Health Canada officials are networking with colleagues, the provinces and territories, and midwifery leaders on key challenges related to midwifery in Canada. Specifically, the Department has hosted meetings between officials of the provincial and territorial health ministries and midwifery leaders to discuss issues facing the midwifery profession and maintains communication with the Canadian Association of Midwives on midwifery policy and developments in Canada.

Thank you for writing. 

Sincerely,

Leona Aglukkaq