moved for leave to introduce Bill C-498, an act respecting the establishment and award of an Organ Donation Medal to commemorate a person for the posthumous donation of an organ.
Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to rise on this very special day when the health committee will be introducing its report.
I want to thank my hon. colleague from Dewdney—Alouette for seconding this bill.
I rise to introduce my private member's bill, which I call the organ donation medal act. If passed, the bill will serve to formally recognize posthumously those who have given of themselves through organ donation so that someone else may live a richer, fuller life. This medal would be awarded to a family member to recognize the gift of life.
Today over 3,000 Canadians are waiting for life-giving organ transplants and Canada has one of the lowest donation rates in the world. We know that needs to be changed. As a parliament and as a society we can take steps to change this.
This bill is without precedence and I hope that through this small step we can ensure that more of those 3,000 people will be able to receive the organ donation which they so desperately need. This bill would help those people.
I hope that all members on all sides of the House will give this bill the non-partisan support it deserves.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)