Private Member's Statement
October 20, 2008 - Midwifery Services
Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. On October 16 the government announced that midwifery services will be funded under health care. I have been advocating this for 19 years, and I want to take a few moments to do a victory lap and to acknowledge some of the wonderful people who shared the vision and who stayed with the cause. I must start at the beginning, with Safe Alternatives in Childbirth, known as ASAC, in Edmonton and with Birth Unlimited in Calgary. In Edmonton the first meeting was held 30 years ago at the home of Ray Rasmussen and Sandra Dowie. Special mention must also go to Dr. LeRiche and Dr. Ben Toane, who supported this organization and its goals.
My congratulations to Sandra Dowie, the first president of ASAC; to the vital volunteers for ASAC and Birth Unlimited Margaret Larsen, Paula Cryderman, Henriette Douziech, Darlene Gartner Weiss, Joann Johnstone, Wendy Molnar, Sandra Botting, Laura Goulet; and the ASAC past presidents Janet Schwegel, Carmen Noel, Cherilyn Michaels, Karen Wirtanen, Tracy Kennedy, and Amanda Whiting.
Mr. Speaker, the original midwives, Noreen Walker and Sandy Pullin, were joined by others: Susan James, Annita Damsma, Kerstin Flanagan, Martha Gostkowski, Linda Moore, Maureen Ellis, Donna Gibbons, Wendy Lester, Barbara Scriver, Joanna Greenhalgh, Marie Tutt, Sara Day, Karen Robb, Sharyne Fraser, Patty Lenstra, Meryl Moulton, Penny Salkeld, Joy West, Susan Dowell, Evonne Smulders, Arlette Allyjan, Bobbie Fraser, Sheila Harvey, and Jo Pettersson. And that’s just to name a few.
I also want to recognize the contribution of the members of the Alberta Advisory Council on Women’s Issues, who made three recommendations to the government: to make midwifery a profession, to have standards and practices developed, and to fully fund midwifery services under health care. Take a victory lap, everyone. It only took us 19 years. Thank you.
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