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Jamie Sarkonak: N.L. policy blocking parents from children's health records was an avoidable mistake

Conservatives shouldn't wait for a scandal to clean up the messes of earlier progressive governments

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Earlier this month, Newfoundland parents were told by provincial authorities that they wouldn’t be entitled to view the health information of their kids, if aged 12 or over, on a new government portal. Tweens and teens would have to consent to allow parents access to health files, which would inevitably undermine the care of stubborn, angry, difficult, behaviourally-issue-ridden youth.

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What was perhaps most surprising was this happened under a Progressive Conservative government — which, at least, walked the idea back some days later. The PCs blamed the awkward policy choice on past practice, which checks out. But from this, conservatives everywhere should draw a lesson: don’t blindly accept the status quo that’s been handed to you by your predecessors.

Jamie Sarkonak: N.L. policy blocking parents from children's health records was an avoidable mistake Back to video

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