Today, France Gélinas, NDP Health Critic, along with breastfeeding support experts, nursing mothers and their babies, called upon the McGuinty Liberals to implement a provincial breastfeeding strategy.

“The reality is that in Ontario today there is a patchwork of services, that may or may not be covered by OHIP, and no strategy to ensure that breastfeeding programs and services are publicly-funded and easily accessible to new moms and newborns who need these supports,” said Gélinas.

Joining the Nickel Belt MPP were Edith Kernerman, Co-Director, Newman Breastfeeding Clinic and Institute & President, Ontario Lactation Consultants Association Canada (OLCA Canada); Lori Levere, Ontario Breastfeeding Committee; and Joanne Gilmore, Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO).

“Though breastfeeding is natural, it is a learned behaviour. Parents and soon-to-be parents need to have access to breastfeeding information and support that is timely, consistent, and evidence based. Because they are not getting it, fewer babies are breastfeeding even at one month, the cost of which is too heavy a burden on our already overly-burdened healthcare system,” said Kernerman.

“The Ontario government has set goals for mothers to breastfeed, but has not yet endorsed the globally proven map to get there - the Baby Friendly Initiative. What is needed now is provincial leadership so that the 92% of mothers who want to breastfeed can be helped to do it,” said Levere.

“Nurses are well positioned as champions of breastfeeding to take an active role in moving the Baby Friendly Initiative forward, but we cannot do it alone. We need the provincial government to implement this initiative right across Ontario so that new mothers get the advice and support they need to provide the healthiest nourishment for their babies” said Gilmore.

“For almost 3 years, the NDP has urged the McGuinty Liberals to support breastfeeding programs for Ontario mothers and newborns. To date they haven’t budged. I’m calling on the McGuinty Liberals to implement a provincial breastfeeding strategy – today,” said Gélinas.