Schools need policy on peanuts, asthma, diabetes, epilepsy…

For Immediate Release
December 6, 2013

Simcoe – Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett feels it is time the Ontario government pass legislation that will put in place school policy on peanuts, asthma, diabetes, epilepsy and whatever else may be ailing children.

The local MPP spoke in the Ontario Legislature to his colleague Jeff Yurek’s Private Member’s Bill called Ryan’s Law. The bill is named after 12-year-old Ryan Gibbons who went into medical distress because of an asthma attack on the school yard and was unable to be saved.

Barrett told the Legislature, “We have to take this further. I’d like to see this government pass legislation that would pull it all together – allergies, asthma, epilepsy and diabetes – rather than this piecemeal, almost reactive approach.”

He went on to say that school children with epilepsy often require Ativan but unfortunately families struggle to get their school board to administer the drug to epileptic children. Similarly, New Brunswick is the only province where there is education policy to accommodate or protect students with diabetes.

“Let’s work together and include as many other issues and ailments in this bill, within a piece of government legislation, so that we can protect as many children as possible,” Barrett concluded.

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