New Minister of Health is Patty Hajdu (represents Thunder Bay Ontario and was previously Minister of Status of Women)

[Scott Simpson]

Hey folks,

Any one have experience with the new Minister re patient engagement or other things relevant to health care and research?

[Kathy Smith]

Hi Scott and Kirk,

I live in Thunder Bay - home to Patty Hajdu. She has a background in Social Work and did an excellent job managing a very busy, and, at times, very challenging Shelter House. She is a champion of the needs of the marginalized and impoverished and accomplished much during her tenure. She is strong-willed, direct, articulate and energetic. Her whole heart will be devoted to the task, of that I am sure. How “fit” she is for the role of minister of health will soon be determined by her actions. I am confident she will live up to our expectations.

[Scott Simpson]

Thanks Kirk and Kathy, these all sound like good signs as she moves into this role.

Hopefully she'll be like her immediate predecessor Ginette Petitpas Taylor, who was very open and supportive of the medically marginalized illness Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME).

Prior to GPT, Dr Jane Philpott only further marginalized ME. Initially I thought having a doctor, especially one I'd known via international HIV/AIDS work, as our Health Minister was a smart choice. I was naive. Philpott brought with her much of the harmful aspects of the physician culture.

Having experience in social work, I am hopeful Minister Hadju will bring the empathy and openness of that profession, and not the arrogance and closed-ness of much of the medical profession, because those are the last attributes our federal Health Minister should possess.

[Alies Maybee]

I agree that our new minister seems promising. Great to read your comments, Kathy, as you are from the same place and would know more. Cheers!