Protect Allergic Children Today (PACT)
www.m210.org

Contact: Tracy Zeisberger Victoria, BC Phone: 250-544-1744 or 250-213-8056 email: tracy@m210.org

NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 25, 2007

Bill to Protect Allergic Students
Gains "Phenomenal" Support

Victoria, B.C. - Principals, teachers, school support staff, and parent advisory councils have all thrown their support behind Bill M 210, the Anaphylactic Student Protection Act. The bill, designed to protect 13,000 B.C. students with life-threatening allergies, is scheduled for second reading in the Legislature on Monday, May 28th at 11 a.m. "The backing has been phenomenal, just an outpouring of support," said Caroline Posynick, spokesperson for the group Protect Allergic Children Today (PACT). "Everyone we needed onside with this bill is onside: all stakeholders agree this law is necessary." She noted the one significant holdout: the B.C. government. Education Minister Shirley Bond has so far declined to endorse Bill M 210, a non-partisan, private member's bill sponsored by New Democrat David Cubberley. She has instead set up an advisory committee to examine whether a law or a policy on anaphylaxis in the schools would be the most effective. "We don't need more studies, we can look to Ontario's experience to see the success of Sabrina's Law there," Posynick said. "What we need is a law — now." Bill M 210, modeled after Sabrina's Law, would require all B.C. school boards to have consistent anaphylaxis policies, and for public schools to minimize allergy exposures and train staff in emergency procedures, including the use of an epinephrine auto-injector. "Anaphylactic shock can be fatal within minutes, especially without the treatment close at hand," noted Kim Howland, president of the B.C. Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils. "This bill would help ease that anxiety for students, parents and staff of the child's school community," she said. Howland further added that in 2000 the BCCPAC members put forth a resolution to protect all children with Anaphylaxis. Groups recently announcing their support for the bill include: the BCCPAC, the B.C. Principals and Vice Principals Association, teachers associations (including Victoria, Saanich, and Central Okanogan), School Trustees - Districts 63 and 23 most recently as well as Michael McEvoy, Chairman of Greater Victoria School Board and Superintendent of Schools, School District No 62 Brian Fox, CUPE (representing support staff), and B.C.'s Representative for Children and Youth, Mary Ellen Turpel-Lanfond.

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