CBC Maritimes

When it comes to getting coverage for expensive cancer drugs, not all Canadians are treated equally

If you or a loved one are diagnosed with cancer and the oncologist prescribes a promising but shockingly expensive oral drug, you'd be better off living in British Columbia than Prince Edward Island or New Brunswick. 

If your province doesn't cover the cost of the drug or if you don't have private insurance, the physical consequences of not getting the medication can be accompanied by financial disaster.

Traci Gaudet of Prince Edward Island told us how her family learned what the phrase "catastrophic drug costs" really meant when her mother, Joan, was diagnosed with kidney cancer.

Then we spoke with Dan Demers,the Director of Public Issues with the Canadian Cancer Society. The Society has released a report that explores the patchwork of cancer drug coverage across the country, and made  recommendations about how to make the system more equitable.  

We seem to be locked into a vicious cycle in Canada (emphasis on the word "vicious").
Federal parties expend energies either on personal attacks against opposing leaders, MPs and operatives or on dishing up spin for the news media.
In turn, this spectacle seems to make citizens lose respect for Parliament,reflected in declining voter turnout. And coincidentally, as we disengage from our democratic process and institutions, Canadians are dying so that Afghanistan might embrace democracy.
So what would make the parties win back the respect of citizens ? Which responsibilities need to be clarified for both the elected and the electors ?
We heard Professor Ned Franks of Queen's University talk about things he's noted when comparing Parliaments past & present. Then we were joined by  CBC Radio's National Affairs Editor Chris Hall & Stephen Maher of the Chronicle-Herald's Ottawa Bureau as we asked : "What would improve the way Parliament works ?"