TORONTO — A Progressive Conservative attempt to get an all-party committee to develop a rare disease strategy in Ontario appears set to fail today without Liberal support.
The majority Liberals are expected to vote against the private members' motion that would have seen the committee hear from rare disease sufferers and determine how best to help them get diagnosis and treatment.
Health Minister Eric Hoskins recently announced a working group on rare diseases, which he says will help get immediate and tangible results for those people.
He says the working group will consist of clinical experts, patients and patient advocates, not politicians.
But Progressive Conservative Michael Harris, who suggested an all-party committee, says the working group will take the process behind closed doors, and that the Liberals are turning their backs on rare disease sufferers.
NDP Leader Andrea Horwath says having a working group doesn't necessarily mean there can't also be an all-party committee.
