Wikipedia

Doug Eyolfson

Doug Eyolfson (born 1963) is a Canadian physician and was a Member of Parliament in the House of Commons of Canada for the riding of Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley. He was elected in the 2015 federal election and was defeated in the 2019 Canadian federal election.[1] He was a member of the Standing Committee on Health, the Standing Committee on Veteran Affairs and the Subcommittee on Sports-Related Concussions in Canada.[2] He was also the chair of the Manitoba Liberal Caucus.

Doug Eyolfson
M.D. FRCPC
Member of Parliament
for Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley
In office
October 19, 2015 – September 11, 2019
Preceded bySteven Fletcher
Succeeded byMarty Morantz
Personal details
Born1963 (age 60–61)
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Political partyLiberal
SpouseSowmya Dakshinamurti
Alma materUniversity of Manitoba
ProfessionPhysician
Websitedeyolfson.liberal.ca

Early life edit

Eyolfson was born and raised in Winnipeg, and studied medicine at the University of Manitoba. He worked for 20 years as an emergency department physician in Winnipeg. During his medical career he was a Flight Physician with Manitoba Air Ambulance, medical director of Manitoba's Land Ambulance Program and medical director of the Province of Manitoba's EMS Medical Dispatch Centre.[3][4]

On February 9, 2013, he attracted notice for saving the life of a man who went into cardiac arrest on a transit bus that Eyolfson happened to be riding on at the time.[5][6]

Political career edit

Eyolfson was acclaimed as the Liberal Party's nominee in Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley on March 30, 2015, and took a leave of absence from his medical practice during the campaign.[6] He stated that his reason for running for Parliament stemmed from his experience as an emergency physician where he saw the daily impacts of poverty, homelessness, substance abuse, and crime.[7] Eyolfson won the election, unseating Conservative incumbent and former cabinet minister Steven Fletcher by over 6,000 votes in a huge upset.[8]

Eyolfson introduced his first private member's bill, C-373, an act respecting a federal framework on distracted driving in October 2017.[9] Eyolfson's private member's bill would have the federal justice and transport ministers work with the provinces to create a framework aimed at deterring and preventing distracted driving.[10] Eyolfson stated the reason he introduced the bill was due to his experiences as an emergency department physician where he treated multiple victims of distracted driving.[11] The bill was defeated at Second Reading March 21, 2018.[12]

In October 2017, Eyolfson sponsored S-228, the Child Health Protection Act in the House of Commons. The bill seeks to amend the Food and Drugs Act in an effort to fight childhood obesity by prohibiting the marketing of unhealthy food and beverages towards children.[13] Eyolfson stated his previous experience as a doctor and his desire to take steps towards reducing childhood obesity and the risk of premature onset of chronic conditions such as Type 2 diabetes and heart disease as his reasoning for sponsoring the legislation.[14]

On April 18, 2018, the Standing Committee on Health tabled its report Pharmacare now: prescription medicine coverage for all Canadians.[15] Eyolfson, a member of the health committee, helped draft the committee's report.[16] The committee made 18 recommendations it said could form a blueprint for a new single-payer, publicly funded prescription drug program for all Canadians. Eyolfson told the Winnipeg Free Press that a national pharmacare program would mean "the ability to bulk-buy [pharmaceuticals] would save billions of dollars a year," and could introduce provinces to newer, cheaper medications that are more effective.[17] In his community report, Eyolfson stated, "It's evident a National Pharmacare Plan would both save billions annually and save lives. As a result, I’m calling upon the government to fully implement a National Pharmacare Plan that is universal, comprehensive, evidence-based, and sustainable."[18]

Due to the rising number of incidents related methamphetamine abuse in Manitoba,[19][20] Eyolfson tabled a motion for the Standing Committee on Health to study the impacts of methamphetamine abuse in Canada in order to develop recommendations on actions that the federal government can take, in partnership with the provinces and territories. The committee unanimously agreed to his study.[21] Regarding the outline of the committee study, Eyolfson said, "the medical evidence says that if you’re dealing with drug problems, the number of things that need to be factored in go so far beyond the actual substance; you look at the root causes,”[19] and that he also hopes the committee's findings will help lead to a federal strategy for dealing with meth[20] that could include funding treatments, issuing recommendations to drug manufacturers, shaping the Liberals’ poverty-reduction strategy and restrictions on key ingredients without compromising its legitimate use.[19]

On June 13, Eyolfson moved a motion at the Standing Committee on Health to initiate a study to address violence faced by healthcare workers. The committee unanimously agreed to his study.[22] In a community report prepared by Eyolfson, he wrote that sixty one per cent of nurses report abuse, harassment or assault on the job over a one-year period which leads many to suffer from the effects of PTSD. And that from 2006 to 2015, there were nearly 17,000 violence-related lost-time claims for health care workers. In 2016, this cost Canada nearly a billion dollars as a result of absenteeism for full-time nurses due to illness or injury.[23] In a statement in the House of Commons, Eyolfson said, “As an emergency room physician for 20 years, I would regularly be exposed to violence, even on two occasions having been assaulted myself… It is evident that there is a need for federal engagement on this issue, which is why I introduced a motion in the health committee to study and develop recommendations on actions that the federal government could take to improve violence prevention in health care.[24]”

On March 1, 2019, Eyolfson tabled a petition in the House of Commons to address violence against health care workers. The petition had 8,743 signatures from every province and territory in Canada. His petition called upon the Minister of Health to develop a pan-Canadian prevention strategy to address growing incidents of violence against health-care workers.[25][26] Eyolfson hopes that a national prevention strategy would continue to change perceptions that violence in workplace settings was acceptable. Eyolfson stated, "Part of it's a cultural shift. It was always just simply accepted that this was a 'part of the job…It took a long time for society, in general, to say that, 'No, this is not acceptable in the hospital workplace; this is not acceptable in any workplace.’"[25]

In December 2018, the City of Winnipeg, the Province of Manitoba and Government of Canada formed a tri-level task force to address the distribution of illicit drugs and the root causes of the province's meth crisis.[27] Because of his experience in emergency medicine,[28] Eyolfson was brought in to support the task force from a public health perspective.[29]

Eyolfson ran for re-election in Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley in the 2019 federal election. Amid a nationwide drop in Liberal support from the 2015 election, he lost to Conservative challenger Marty Morantz by a margin of 2,417 votes. He challenged Morantz in 2021. After the first count of the ballots on polling day, September 20, in the latter election, Morantz led Eyolfson by 24 votes, which touched off a mandatory recount.[30] Eight days later, Eyolfson conceded after the validated results had widened Morantz's lead to 460 votes, which was approximately 1 per cent of the total vote.[31]

Electoral record edit

2021 Canadian federal election: Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Marty Morantz 18,111 40.0 -0.7 $97,370.69
Liberal Doug Eyolfson 17,651 39.0 +3.5 $79,799.09
New Democratic Madelaine Dwyer 6,974 15.4 +1.2 $0.00
People's Angela Van Hussen 1,594 3.5 -0.8 $417.99
Green Vanessa Parks 947 2.1 -2.6 $0.00
Total valid votes/expense limit 45,277 99.4 – $104,740.13
Total rejected ballots 296 0.6
Turnout 45,573 69.7
Eligible voters 65,423
Conservative hold Swing -2.1
Source: Elections Canada[32]
2019 Canadian federal election: Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Marty Morantz 18,815 40.7 +1.66 $96,689.75
Liberal Doug Eyolfson 16,398 35.5 -16.52 $75,789.03
New Democratic Ken St. George 6,556 14.2 +8.17 none listed
Green Kristin Lauhn-Jensen 2,178 4.7 +1.78 $0.00
People's Steven Fletcher 1,975 4.3 – none listed
Christian Heritage Melissa Penner 166 0.4 – none listed
Independent Brian Ho 140 0.3 – none listed
Total valid votes/expense limit 46,228 100.0
Total rejected ballots 256
Turnout 46,484 71.1
Eligible voters 65,375
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +9.13
Source: Elections Canada[33][34]
2015 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Doug Eyolfson 24,531 52.02 +33.63 –
Conservative Steven Fletcher 18,408 39.04 -18.52 –
New Democratic Tom Paulley 2,842 6.03 -14.10 –
Green Kevin Nichols 1,376 2.92 -1.01 –
Total valid votes/Expense limit 47,157 99.59   $197,421.64
Total rejected ballots 195 0.41 –
Turnout 47,352 74.61 –
Eligible voters 63,466
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +26.08
Source: Elections Canada[35][36]

References edit

  1. ^ "Liberal Doug Eyolfson defeats incumbent Steven Fletcher in Charleswood". CBC News. October 19, 2015. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
  2. ^ "Doug Eyolfson - Member of Parliament - Members of Parliament - House of Commons of Canada". www.ourcommons.ca. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  3. ^ Meet Doug Eyolfson, Liberal.ca.
  4. ^ "Who is who in the Liberal caucus". Macleans.ca. 3 November 2015.
  5. ^ Diana Moes VandeHoef, Profile: Dr. Doug Eyolfson, Doctors Manitoba.
  6. ^ a b Local ER doctor acclaimed as federal Liberal candidate, The Winnipeg Free Press, March 31, 2015.
  7. ^ "Doug Eyolfson, Liberal — Charleswood-St. James-Assiniboia-Headingley". CBC News. October 6, 2015. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
  8. ^ Eyolfson snatches Charleswood from Fletcher, The Winnipeg Sun, October 19, 2015.
  9. ^ "LEGISinfo – Private Member's Bill C-373 (42-1)". www.parl.ca.
  10. ^ "MP introduces bill to put distracted driving on fed's agenda". 25 October 2017.
  11. ^ Comments, Posted: 10/18/2017 8:34 PM (18 October 2017). "Manitoba MP tables bill aimed at cracking down on texting motorists". Winnipeg Free Press – via www.winnipegfreepress.com.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  12. ^ "LEGISinfo – Private Member's Bill C-373 (42-1)". www.parl.ca. Retrieved 2018-03-25.
  13. ^ Kirkup, Kristy (29 December 2017). "Legislation barring food marketing for kids likely to pass in new year".
  14. ^ Geary, rea (29 January 2018). "Eyolfson working on public health, safety issues". Winnipeg Free Press – via www.winnipegfreepress.com.
  15. ^ "Committee Report No. 14 - HESA (42-1) - House of Commons of Canada". www.ourcommons.ca. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  16. ^ "Liberal MP Says Pharmacare Support Is Critical For Re-Election Chances". HuffPost Canada. 2018-04-20. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  17. ^ Robertson, Dylan (2018-04-18). "Apr 2018: National pharmacare would boost health: committee". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  18. ^ Report, Doug Eyolfson-Charleswood-St James-Assiniboia-Headingley MP Constituency (2018-02-05). "Feb 2018: Need is great for Pharmacare Plan". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  19. ^ a b c Robertson, Dylan (2018-09-09). "Sep 2018: Ottawa delves into meth crisis". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  20. ^ a b "MP hopes Manitoba meth crisis response will come out of parliamentary hearings | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  21. ^ "Minutes - HESA (42-1) - No. 99 - House of Commons of Canada".
  22. ^ "Minutes - HESA (42-1) - No. 110 - House of Commons of Canada". www.ourcommons.ca. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  23. ^ Eyolfson, Doug (2018-06-25). "Jun 2018: Addressing violence against health care workers". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  24. ^ "Debates (Hansard) No. 315 - June 14, 2018 (42-1) - House of Commons of Canada".
  25. ^ a b Botelho-Urbanski, Jessica (2019-02-28). "Feb 2019: City MP, nurses want safety standards for increasingly violent health facilities". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  26. ^ "Violence against health-care workers 'increasing tremendously,' says Winnipeg MP and physician | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  27. ^ Botelho-Urbanski, Jessica (2018-12-18). "Dec 2018: City, province, Ottawa strike task force to battle meth". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  28. ^ Lett, Dan (2018-12-19). "Dec 2018: Meth task force is underwhelming reaction". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  29. ^ Robertson, Dylan (2018-12-20). "Dec 2018: Delay on meth task force blamed on choice of Ouellette". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  30. ^ "Conservatives Marty Morantz wins by 24 votes in Charleswood riding, triggering recount". CBC News. September 25, 2021. Archived from the original on September 30, 2021. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  31. ^ Rosen, Kayla (September 28, 2021). "Marty Morantz increases lead to win Winnipeg riding for Conservatives; Liberal Doug Eyolfson concedes race". CTV News. Winnipeg. Archived from the original on October 3, 2021. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  32. ^ "List of confirmed candidates – September 20, 2021 Federal Election". Elections Canada. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  33. ^ "List of confirmed candidates". Elections Canada. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  34. ^ "Election Night Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  35. ^ Elections Canada – Confirmed candidates for Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, 30 September 2015
  36. ^ Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates Archived August 15, 2015, at the Wayback Machine

External links edit

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