The Canadian Association of Midwives Celebrates the Unanimous Support to Establish a National Day of the Midwife in Canada

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Nov. 20, 2014) - The Canadian Association of Midwives (CAM) is pleased that all political parties supported MP Rosane Doré Lefebvre's Bill C-608, National Day of the Midwife Act, yesterday in the House of Commons.

Bill C-608 received its second reading in the House of Commons yesterday and was unanimously voted in favour, receiving 255 votes, thereby sending the Bill to Committee. May 5th is already recognized as the International Day of the Midwife and this bill will show appreciation for the important role that midwives play as primary maternal and newborn health care providers across Canada and recognize May 5th as National Day of the Midwife here in Canada. Every year, midwives provide care to thousands of women and families in most Canadian provinces and territories, but the profession remains unregulated and unfunded in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, and the Yukon.

"We are extremely excited to see such widespread support for this Bill", says Ms. Emmanuelle Hébert, President of the Canadian Association of Midwives (CAM). "Thank you MP Rosane Doré Lefebvre for introducing this bill and recognizing the important role of midwives in Canada," continues Ms. Hébert. "We believe all Canadian families have the right to choose midwifery care, and we hope this Bill makes progress in increasing accessibility to care."

"A national day of the midwife will certainly help to increase awareness of the value of this important profession in providing maternal care services to women and their families, both domestically and internationally", said Conservative MP Eve Adams, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health. "Our government will support Bill C-608, which seeks to designate May 5 each and every year as the National Day of the Midwife" concluded Ms. Adams.

The Bill also received support from the Liberal Party. "Midwifery is a way of providing quality, timely, cost-effective, patient-centred care, and I want to stress more than anything else the use of these primary care providers in terms of low-risk deliveries." said Liberal MP Hedy Fry.

"I believe that this Bill is recognition that midwifery is an essential part of the Canadian health care system", concludes Ms. Hébert.

About Midwifery in Canada

There are just over 1300 registered midwives in Canada. Midwives are primary health care providers who work as part of the health care system in most provinces and territories in Canada. They provide care to women during pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period.

The Canadian Association of Midwives (CAM) is the national organization representing midwives and the profession of midwifery in Canada. The mission of CAM is to provide leadership and advocacy for midwifery as a regulated, publicly funded and vital part of the primary maternity care system in all provinces and territories.

For more information about CAM, visit our website at www.canadianmidwives.org.