Troubled Times for Canadian Advocacy

The Environmental Illness Society of Canada (EISC) is on the one hand, celebrating a milestone-its fifth year anniversary-and on the other hand, fighting against extreme financial pressure to fold. alive readers may recognize the name of Judy Spence, president of the society, who has regularly contributed articles to the magazine. Her insights and informative stories have helped many of our readers.

Yet there is an another story of financial devastation faced by this volunteer-run association that needs to be aired. Judy and her board are not able to stop and celebrate their many successes. Instead, they are in the midst of the biggest battle in their five-year history, that of survival. The EISC has taken on debt year after year in order to offer programs, to advocate for the 4.5 million Canadians affected by environmental illness, to hold critically needed conferences and to lobby for protective legislation.

Says Judy, "most Canadians presume we are as effective as we have been because we are large and well funded. Truth be known, we are small and broker than broke. I've had to assume approximately $50,000 in debt so that the EISC could continue to operate."

Since its inception, the EISC has successfully lobbied the government, written and gotten legislation into the system, delivered awareness and support programs, raised public knowledge and helped gain acceptance of the illness. This year, Health Canada conducted a first-time-ever national prevalence survey on multiple chemical sensitivities, chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia. The EISC risked it all and held two unfunded conferences. One educated and empowered patients and advocacy organizations from across the country. The other was a historic event, the first medical conference to bring about the acceptance of environmental illness within the medical community.

Judy confided to alive, however, that she has asked her board of directors to consider dissolving the EISC because they can no longer afford to carry on their work. Health Minister Allan Rock has commended the EISC for its great work and acknowledged its imminent dissolution," says Judy.

At a time when environmental illness is on the rise worldwide and has already hit 15 per cent of the population. This organization is desperately needed to be a national voice for sick Canadians.

To make a donation to the Environmental Illness Society of Canada, send your cheques to 536 Dovercourt Avenue, Ottawa, ON, K2A 0T9 and you will be mailed a tax receipt. To make a donation online, visit < eisc.ca >. When it comes to survival, no donation is too small.