Health committee  I know my colleague asked whether or not we will be tracking all Canadians who have received the CCSVI treatment. I want to know if you can expand on why it is important to do this—first of all, to have the monitoring system, and second, why it may be important to ensure that we capture those individuals who have received the CCSVI.

Health committee  I'll start by saying that, as you know, the monitoring system is for all MS patients, including those who have chosen to have the CCSVI procedure, but not exclusive to those patients. The reason it's important to have this monitoring system is that right now people with MS are going to a variety of clinics across the country for their care and treatment.

Health committee  One of the first questions I'll ask is, will the CIHR roster all the Canadian patients who have been treated for CCSVI to date? Yes or no? I'm just looking for a yes or a no.

Health committee  Are there any definitive tests out there that doctors could use to diagnose CCSVI?

Health committee  As you know, in 2009, Italian physician Paolo Zamboni proposed that the blockage of veins in the neck and chest, a condition he referred to as chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency, or CCSVI, was the cause of MS, and he suggested that opening these veins would relieve the patients' MS symptoms. It is important to realize that this proposed venous angioplasty procedure is not a routine procedure.

National Strategy for Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency (CCSVI) Act  The House resumed from February 15 consideration of the motion that Bill C-280, An Act to establish a National Strategy for Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency (CCSVI), be read the second time and referred to a committee.

Multiple Sclerosis  North America's top doctors who diagnose and treat CCSVI, Drs. Hubbard, McDonald, Sclafani, Siskin, et cetera, support Bill C-280, as does Dr. Shannon, former deputy surgeon general, who lived through the restructuring of the Canadian blood system.

National Strategy for Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency (CCSVI) Act  Let us be very clear on this point; the many scientists and clinicians comprising our Scientific Advisory Board, all internationally recognized for their expertise in this area, stand firmly behind your position that the safety of CCSVI angioplasty has been well established and therefore anything less than an adaptive Phase II/III trial would be unconscionable.

Petitions  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present two petitions today. The first petition is with regard CCSVI. Over 15,000 procedures have now been performed in 60 countries. While the government has announced a request for proposals for phase I/II trials, leading CCSVI physicians and researchers in North America recommend an adaptive phase II/III trial.

National Strategy for Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency (CCSVI) Act  The House resumed from December 8, 2011, consideration of the motion that Bill C-280, An Act to establish a National Strategy for Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency (CCSVI), be read the second time and referred to a committee.

Keeping Canada's Economy and Jobs Growing Act  Since when do scientists fail to collect data or, worse, choose not to gather evidence? The CIHR is currently recommending phase I or phase II clinical trials for CCSVI. I would argue that there is no need for a phase I trial, which is usually undertaken to assess safety. Angioplasty is an accepted standard of care practice in Canada. I would, therefore, suggest that we need an adaptive phase II or phase III trial, for example, clinical trials for the CCSVI procedure in multiple centres across Canada.

Petitions  Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition regarding chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency, CCSVI. While the government has announced clinical trials for CCSVI, all there is right now are announcements. What is needed is action. Canadians with MS cannot afford to wait as any delay possibly means more damage.

Keeping Canada's Economy and Jobs Growing Act  I would like to address a second item missing from the budget: funding for clinical trials for chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency, or CCSVI. After much resistance, the federal government announced this summer that it would fund clinical trials for CCSVI. This was welcome news for Canadians with MS and for their families.

Petitions  While the government has announced clinical trials for CCSVI, all we have right now is announcements. What we need is action. Canadians with MS cannot afford to wait as any delay possibly means more damage. Therefore the petitioners call on the Minister of Health to consult experts actively engaged in diagnosis and treatment of CCSVI, to undertake phase III clinical trials on an urgent basis with a large patient participation in multiple centres across Canada and to require follow-up care.

Petitions  The petitioners are calling on the Minister of Health to consult experts actively engaged in diagnosis and treatment of CCSVI to undertake phase III clinical trials on an urgent basis in multiple centres across Canada and to require follow-up care.