Port Renfrew is the furthest outpost of my riding. It is a land of extraordinary beauty with mountains that hug a rugged coastline, rivers that run through deep valleys, and a land that harbours significant biodiversity. This area also contains some of the oldest and most majestic living things on our planet. In the area of the Gordon River Valley and further north in the upper Walbran Valley are some of the largest trees on the planet.

A few weeks ago, I went into this remote area with a small team from the Ancient Forest Alliance to document these giant Western Red Cedars, Sitka Spruce and Douglas Fir that jut out of the surrounding valley floors like spires from cathedrals.

These trees are very important as they harbour a wide variety of plants and animals when alive, and when they fall, they also provide homes for everything from black bear to fungi. As standing behemoths or fallen giants, they are integral parts of their ecosystems. (more…)

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By Keith Martin, Special to The Windsor Star August 7, 2010

At the recent International AIDS Conference in Vienna, many excellent solutions were discussed about how to combat the pandemic, from treating people with anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs once they are diagnosed (Vancouver’s Seek and Treat Program) to ways we can better stop the transmission of the virus from mother to fetus.

We already possess the knowledge to effectively prevent, treat and manage this disease; however, there is still a massive gap between the treatments we have and their availability for those who need them.

What good are ARVs if there isn’t a health-care worker to test the patient, dispense the medications and follow up with them? What good are ARVs if adequate diagnostics are not available? What if you don’t have access to adequate nutrition? (An HIV-positive person needs 1,500 calories per day minimum, versus 1,200 calories if you are HIV-negative. Proper nutrition is the most important “drug” for a person who is HIV positive.) What if the medications needed to treat the many other diseases that can kill people, whether they have HIV or not, are not available? What are the effects on a population’s health if the people do not have access to clean water with which to take their drugs?
(more…)

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It’s not glamorous, but basic medicine is key to improving health in poor areas

By KEITH MARTIN, Freelance July 21, 2010

At this week’s International AIDS Conference in Vienna, many excellent solutions will be discussed about how to combat the pandemic, from treating people with antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) once they are diagnosed (Vancouver’s Seek and Treat Program) to ways we can better stop the transmission of the virus from mother to fetus. We already possess the knowledge to prevent, treat, and manage this disease effectively; however, there is still a massive gap between the treatments we have and their availability for those who need them.

What good are ARVs if there isn’t a health-care worker to test the patient, dispense the medications, and follow up with them? What good are ARVs if adequate diagnostics are not available? What if you don’t have access to adequate nutrition? (An HIV-positive person needs 1,500 calories per day minimum, versus 1,200 calories if you are HIVnegative. Proper nutrition is the most important “drug” for a person who is HIV positive.)

(more…)

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By Keith Martin Member of Parliament, Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca, B.C., Liberal Party of Canada; MD.
First Posted: Jun 08 2010 07:12 AM

Canada needs to articulate what it wants to achieve at the G8 and G20 summits.

Time is running out for Prime Minister Harper to articulate what he wants to achieve as the host of this month’s G8 and G20 summits in Ontario. Hope ran high when he announced earlier this year that one of the cornerstones of the summit would be reducing the appalling number of deaths among pregnant women and young children from entirely preventable or treatable causes. However, this optimism was dashed when the debate became bogged down in abortion politics. Harper and his key ministers rolled back the clock and said that Canada would not fund access to safe abortions as part of a comprehensive plan to reduce maternal mortality. This ignited a debate over abortion that diverted attention and effort from developing a plan that would save the lives of the most vulnerable people in the world.

There is still time for Canada to act with courage and vigor to save the lives of the nine million women and children who die every year from easily treatable causes. So what could Canada’s plan be for the G8/G20 summits?

(more…)

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By Olivia Ward Foreign Affairs Reporter
June 7, 2010

WASHINGTON—The cavernous halls of the Washington Convention Center are awash in colourful djellabas, shalwar kameez, saris and African print cottons as the world’s biggest maternal health conference opens Monday with a speech by United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

But missing in action is Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who, as host of the G20 conference in Toronto later this month, has made saving the lives of the half-million women who die each year din pregnancy and childbirth his core theme.

The Washington meeting, titled Women Deliver, is timed to bolster the G20 agenda for pumping up funds for maternal health. There are 3,300 advocates and politicians attending from 140 countries, including the heads of major UN agencies, government ministers, parliamentarians, celebrity campaigners and former heads of state.

(more…)

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MP Keith Martin could save initiative for women in poor countries and give Stephen Harper a way to avoid enraging his anti-abortion constituency

By Daphne Bramham, Vancouver Sun June 6, 2010

A maternal health care initiative aimed at saving the lives of 9.1 million women and children in developing countries each year is in danger of being torpedoed — or at very least watered down — by Prime Minister Stephen Harper when the G8 and G20 leaders meet later this month in Ontario.

It needs someone to rescue it, and Keith Martin is both a perfectly logical and the most unlikely person to do that.

The MP for Saanich-The Islands has worked abroad as a physician and used his parliamentary position to push for more and better-targeted foreign aid at conferences and forums all over the world. (more…)

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VICTORIA – The Conservative government, during the 100th anniversary of our Navy, has announced widespread cuts that will seriously compromise the ability of our Navy to do their job, said Dr. Keith Martin, Member of Parliament for Esquimalt – Juan de Fuca. Dr. Martin was responding to recent reports that budget cuts are forcing the navy to slash its fleet of Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels from 12 to six ships and three frigates will now only be working close to home and, according to Admiral McFadden, to a “limited degree.”

“Even worse, resources needed to support our ships for their safety and the protection of our sailors will also be removed leaving our ships vulnerable,” said Dr. Martin, who noted that funding cuts have forced the navy to remove combat systems, navigations and communications systems, and some anti-submarine warfare capabilities, along with key weapon systems, that will no longer be supported.

“This failure to support our men and women in uniform is a shocking dereliction of duty on the part of the Conservative government. This is particularly unconscionable given that Canada will be leaving Afghanistan next year and there will be a financial dividend in the Defence Department,” said Dr. Martin.

“This is some birthday present from the Conservative government, which claims to support our troops.”

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