By Marcus Powlowski
THUNDER BAY – POLITICS – I am writing to ask for your support. I am contesting to be the Liberal Party nominee to represent you- Thunder Bay-Rainy River in the October 2019 federal election.
My name is Dr. Marcus Powlowski; I am 59 years. I work at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Center as an Emergency Room Doctor. I am not weighed down by the baggage of political credentials; however, I do have the education and experience, with the enthusiasm and new perspectives, that will make all the difference in the lives of the people I will be representing- you.
I have enclosed my resume if you are interested in knowing what I have been doing professionally in the past thirty-five years. In many ways, my legal education (LL.B, LL.M) is essential, as is my work related to the law in the World Health Organization, to the political process- Members of Parliament pass bills that ultimately become laws. It will be very beneficial and to the advantage of my constituents for their MP to understand legal procedures when making and using existing laws.
Although I believe having a legal education is helpful, I do not believe the public’s interest is most served by representatives that are solely lawyers, or career politicians. We want people in the legislature who have lived a life and as a result, are not overly imbued with any one particular point of view- I have lived such an experience.
I also think that it is essential that your representative is someone that you can relate. Having lived, and worked, in many places, I believe I can find common ground with almost any immigrant, refugee, and citizen born here in Canada. Also, importantly, I am from Thunder Bay- born and raised, and remain, very much, a product of the Lakehead. There is a hockey net in my driveway, and I spend a lot of hours, every winter, watching my kids play minor hockey (I have five children). I am proud to be from Thunder Bay, the Canadian heartland- I enthusiastically look forward to representing this riding and dismantling any unfavourable misconception held nationally. I enjoy drinking a cold beer and believe people like Jean Béliveau, and Gordie Howe are not negative role models.
I have, for quite a few years, been working as a physician in the Thunder Bay ER. I appreciate our healthcare system; I also understand how life on the streets- “real world,” works too — a world of overdoses, drug abuse, addictions, violence, and often despair. I am, because of my job, used to making difficult decisions. I provide aid to people from all segments of society. In a lot of ways being the MP will involve doing the same thing- helping individuals. More so, it entails assisting people in dealing with many other vital things, one of them is dealing with some times, a seemingly, uncaring government bureaucracy.
About my policy positions, I support most, if not all socially progressive issues. I have a genuine interest in global affairs, and global development, and feel Canada ought to be more of a leader in this regards. I think climate change is, justifiably, one of the most significant issues facing the federal government. I fully support efforts to improve the living conditions of the indigenous population- we can do better than we are doing now. I also support our Liberal government’s position on immigrants and refugees.
I am, however, also a centrist who believes in maintaining our historical position, as a centrist party is very important if we are to remain in power. I support economic policies that are favourable to business and supports job creation in our community but not at the expense of workers. After all, a strong economy is the engine that pulls all of our social programs. I also believe totally in fiscal responsibility.
Lastly, we need to listen more! We need to be more tolerant of valid opinions that are in opposition to the ones we hold. As the liberal party, we should endeavour to continue to lead and persuade the people by the strength of our arguments and character rather than by might, shutting down or labelling people who disagree with our point of views- this the Conservatives way, not ours. We lead by example and reason- this is the Liberal Party I hope to continue with, and this is what I offer as the most reasonable candidate asking for your votes to represent you as the liberal candidate.
I hope you will be able to come to the nomination meeting and give me your votes. If you have any issue getting to the event, let us know, and we will arrange to get you to the venue. Also, I hold regular get-togethers for my constituents to chat about politics- I want to keep listening and learning what matters most to you. There are always refreshments.
Thank you for your consideration.
Best regards,
Marcus Powlowski
Dates and Locations for upcoming get-togethers.
Sunday July 21 7.30 pm 61 College St
Tuesday July 23 5 pm 2609 Rankin St
Friday July 25 7 pm 61 College St
Resume:
Dr. Marcus Powlowski (Liberal nomination candidate, Thunder Bay-Rainy River riding)
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY LAW CENTER- Washington, D.C. U.S.A.
Masters of Laws (LL.M) in Global Health Law with Distinction,· May 2008.
Dean’s List. Thomas Bradbury Chetwood S.J. Award for the highest academic average in Global Health Law.
HARVARD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH- Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
Masters of Public Health (MPH) Law and Public Health Program · May 2004.
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO- Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Bachelor of Law (LL.B) · June 1996.
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO, ST. JOSEPH’S HEALTH SCIENCE CENTRE- Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Rotating Internship · June 1996.
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO- Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) · June 1986.
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO- Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Bachelor of Science (Honors) B.Sc. Biochemistry · June 1982.
EMPLOYMENT
THUNDER BAY REGIONAL HEALTH SCIENCE CENTRE- Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.
Emergency Room Physician, June 2003- Present (except as indicated otherwise)
Emergency Room (ER) Physician in the busiest emergency room in Ontario.
Supervision and teaching of medical students, and residents from the Northern Ontario School of Medicine.
FICHE HOSPITAL/ CANADIAN PHYSICIANS FOR AID AND RELIEF (CPAR) Fiche, Ethiopia
Emergency Room Physician/ Health Sector Strengthening Project April 10-May 19, 2018
CPAR health sector strengthening project in a hospital serving a catchment area of about 1.5 million people in the Oromia District of Ethiopia. Project involved direct patient care, teaching General Practitioners working in the emergency room, and assessing how CPAR could help improve the overall quality of services offered by the hospital.
UNIVERSITY OF SAN FRANCISCO, SACRAMENTO CAMPUS- Sacramento, California
Contract Lecturer in Global Health, Masters of Public Health Program January 2017- May 2017.
LAKEHEAD UNIVERSITY, BORA LASKIN FACULTY OF LAW-Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.
Contract Lecturer in Global Health Law, January 2015- May 2015.
LAKEHEAD UNIVERSITY, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SCIENCES-Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.
Contract Lecturer in Global Health, Masters of Public Health (MPH) Program, Sept 2013- January 2014.
HARVARD UNIVERSITY MSH/LEAD- Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
Consultant Feb. 2004- Oct. 2004
Review of legal impediments to access to contraception (and to a lesser extent tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS treatment) in the Philippines.
Recommendations as to how the law might be changed in order to improve access to contraceptives in the Philippines.
See publications.
MED-EMERG INC.- Ontario, Canada
Emergency Room Physician Jul. 1987- Jun. 2003 except as otherwise indicated
ER Physician in; Cobourg, Port Hope, Campbleford, Thunder Bay, St. Catherines, Cambridge, Oshawa, Midland, Bracebridge, Port Colburne, Leamington, Kitchener (Grande River), Toronto (TH), Huntsville (all in Ontario), The Pas, Manitoba
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION – Western Pacific Regional Office (WPRO), Vanuatu, Laos P.D.R.
Consultant (Health legislation) Sept. 2000-Mar. 2002
Background paper looking at the advisability of encouraging countries in the WPRO region to adopt school entry immunization laws (prepared for the for the Extended Program on Immunization, WPRO Office).
Worked with the government of Vanuatu to develop tobacco control and pharmaceutical legislation.
Assisted the Ministry of Health in Laos P.D.R. to develop Public Health (Hygiene) Regulations, water quality, and “Curative Medicine” legislation.
Consulted with Vanuatu Ministry of Health in amending their Health Practitioners Act and Food Act.
PORT VILLA HOSPITAL- Port Villa, Vanuatu
Clinical Assistant Department of Surgery Jan. 2002- Apr. 2002, Medical Officer (Out Patients) Sept. 2000- Jan 2002 (part time).
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION- Vanuatu Office
Contract to revise Public Health Act, July 1999- Jan. 2000.
Worked with Vanuatu Ministry of Health to draft a new Public Health Act. This involved considerable consultation with various stakeholders, including extensive consultation with traditional leaders (chiefs).
Although the bill was never enacted I am told some professors at the University of the South Pacific Law School still use the bill as a model for how customary law can be incorporated into modern legislation.
LOLOWAI HOSPITAL- Lolowai, Ambae, Vanuatu.
Medical Superintendent Penama Province, Jan. 1998- Sept. 2000.
In patient and emergency care, basic general and OBGYN Surgery (Cesarean Section, ruptured ectopics, hernioraphies, etc.), obstetrics, as well as administrative duties in a district hospital serving 28,000.
Being the only physician required being a jack-of-all-trades. So for example to do a Cesarean Section at night required turning on the generator, zeroing the sparks on the old cautery machine, giving the spinal anesthetic, performing the operation and looking after the baby if necessary.
Medical supervisor for provincial health centers, dispensaries, and aid posts on three Islands.
Public health duties.
ST. MARY’S HOSPITAL- Kokopo, Papua New Guinea
Medical Officer, August 1997- January 1998
General and emergency medicine, basic surgery (as above), health center visits.
NORWAY HOUSE INDIAN HOSPITAL- Norway House, Manitoba, Canada.
Chief of Staff, Sept. 1992- March 1994, Medical Officer, Apr. 1994-Jul. 1994.
Hospital based practice in a Cree (Indian) community in northern Canada.
As Chief of Staff various administrative and public health related duties.
BANSANG GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL- Bansang, The Gambia.
Medical Officer, Sept 1991-Jan. 1992
General medicine, pediatrics, basic General and OBGYN surgery (as per PNG/ Vanuatu).
GOOD SHEPHERD HOSPITAL- Siteki Swaziland.
Acting Chief Medical Officer Aug 1990- Oct. 1990, Medical Officer Apr. 1989- Aug. 1990
Hospital based medicine, pediatrics, basic general and OBGYN Surgery (as per PNG/ Vanuatu), supervision of the psychiatric ward.
One of three doctors looking after a 200 bed hospital serving a population of 200,000.
Visits to Mozambican refugee settlements.
Administrative duties as Acting Chief Medical Officer.
BAFFIN REGIONAL HOSPITAL- Iqaluit, Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada.
Medical Officer, July 1998-Sept. 1998
Hospital based practice (locum tenens) in an Inuit community in the Canadian Arctic.
GRENFELL REGIONAL HEALTH SERVICES- Nain, Labrador, Canada.
Medical Officer, Sept 1997- Jan. 1998.
Locum Tenen District Medical Officer and the only doctor looking after the Inuit and Indian population in Northern Labrador.
PUBLICATIONS
Marcus Powlowski, The Regulation of Traditional Practitioners: the role of law in shaping informal constraints, 32 North Carolina Journal of International Law and Commercial Regulation 195 (2006).
Marcus Powlowski, Making Public Health Motivated Evictions Consistent with the Right to Housing, 9 Quinnipiac Health Law Journal, 271 (2006).
Michelle Marie Mello, Marcus Powlowski, Juan Nañagas , Thomas Bossert, The role of law in public health: the case of family planning in the Philippines, 63 Soc Sci. Med. 384 (2006).
Changes in the [Vanuatu] Essential Drug List (2001). A Vanuatu Ministry of Health publication outlining the changes in the national essential drug list. A formulary for the drugs on the list.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
Ontario Medical Association elected District 10 delegate March 2018
Medical Director NYCMedics Medical Relief Team to Northern Tanna Island Vanuatu in the aftermath of Hurricane Pam April 7-18, 2015.
Conferred the customary title Vera by Ambae Paramount Chiefs in recognition of services to the people of Ambae, and Penama Province, April 2000 (this makes me a middle ranked chief).
Vanuatu representative at the Second Meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, Geneva, Switzerland, 2000.
Co-coordinator of the MOH Disaster Response Team following the Pentecost earthquake and Tsunamis, Dec. 1999.
LANGUAGES
Fluent in Bislama / Pidgin, English. Some French.
