This bill has received Royal Assent and is, or will soon become, law.
Summary
This is from the published bill.
This enactment provides for the development of a national strategy to support the prevention and treatment of eye disease, as well as vision rehabilitation, to ensure better health outcomes for Canadians. It also designates the month of February as “Age-Related Macular Degeneration Awareness Month”.
Elsewhere
All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.
Bill numbers are reused for different bills each new session. Perhaps you were looking for one of these other C-284s:
C-284 (2021)
An Act to amend the Department of Industry Act (financial assistance)
C-284 (2016)
National Renewable Energy Strategy Act
This is a computer-generated summary of the speeches below.
Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
Bill C-284 aims to establish a national strategy for eye care in Canada, focusing on the prevention and treatment of eye diseases and vision rehabilitation. It calls for collaboration between federal, provincial, and territorial governments, as well as Indigenous groups and healthcare stakeholders, to improve access to eye care services and promote research and awareness. The bill also designates February as "Age-Related Macular Degeneration Month" to raise public awareness.
Liberal
Supports national eye care strategy: The Liberal party supports Bill C-284, which seeks to establish a national strategy for eye care in Canada. They believe this strategy is a critical step in improving the health of Canadians, similar to national pharmacare and dental care initiatives.
Preventable vision loss is costly: MPs cited statistics highlighting the prevalence of eye disease and vision loss in Canada, noting that a significant portion of vision loss is preventable. They emphasized the profound impact of vision loss on individuals, families, and the economy, estimating an annual cost of $32.9 billion.
Strategy includes access, research: The proposed national strategy aims to improve access to eye care and rehabilitation services, create a vision desk at the Public Health Agency of Canada, and invest in research for new treatments to prevent blindness. Enhanced access to eye health care for Indigenous people is also a key component.
Calls for collaboration: Liberals call for a collaborative approach involving the federal government, provinces, territories, experts, and Indigenous groups to address vision loss. They advocate for shared funding to be directed towards eye health care, ensuring that Canadians receive necessary vision services.
Conservative
Support for national strategy: The Conservatives support the bill, citing the need for a national strategy to address the prevalence of degenerative eye diseases and preventable blindness among Canadians.
Importance of collaboration: The Conservatives emphasized the importance of collaboration between federal, provincial, and territorial governments, as well as Indigenous leaders and healthcare stakeholders, in developing and implementing a national eye care strategy.
Focus on prevention: The Conservatives highlighted the importance of early diagnosis and treatment in preventing vision loss. They support the bill's focus on research and prevention, which they believe will save money in the long run.
Economic impact of vision loss: The Conservatives stressed the financial burden of preventable blindness, citing the high costs associated with healthcare, lost productivity, and reduced quality of life. They believe that a national eye care strategy would help to mitigate these costs.
NDP
Supports a national eye care strategy: The NDP supports Bill C-284 to establish a national strategy for eye care, which they see as a long-neglected issue. They believe that eye care should be part of Canada's universal health care model.
Advocates for universal coverage: The NDP has a long history of advocating for comprehensive, public health care, including eye care. They believe that access to eye care is a right and should be available to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay.
Highlights provincial disparities: The NDP criticizes the inequality in eye care services across provinces, leading to health inequalities for Canadians based solely on where they live. They point to cuts in Ontario as an example of reduced coverage that threatens the vision and well-being of seniors and others.
Bloc
Supports the bill: The Bloc Québécois supports Bill C-284 because it is not restrictive and does not interfere with Quebec's exclusive jurisdiction over health. They believe the bill is a step in the right direction to address the growing problem of eye disease, especially given Canada's aging population.
Respect provincial jurisdiction: The Bloc Québécois emphasizes the need to respect provincial jurisdiction, particularly Quebec's, over health care. They express concern over elements of the bill that may encroach on provincial responsibilities, such as clinical practice guidelines and training for healthcare professionals, while acknowledging amendments made to limit jurisdictional overreach.
Need for health transfers: The Bloc Québécois underscores the importance of increasing health transfers to Quebec to enable meaningful investments in eye care services and to address the fiscal imbalance between the federal and provincial governments. They argue that Quebec needs adequate funding to maintain its quality of eye care and adapt to the growing demand for healthcare services.
Highlights research funding: The Bloc supports the bill because it sees a role for the federal government in funding research and approving drugs and devices related to eye care, and that this federal strategy can advance treatment in this field. They also recognize Quebec's active involvement in ophthalmology research and welcome the strategy's aim to enhance research ecosystems.
Pursuant to Standing Order 98, the recorded division stands deferred until Wednesday, October 25, at the expiry of the time provided for Oral Questions.
It being 2:16 p.m., the House stands adjourned until next Monday at 11 a.m. pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).
The House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion at third reading stage of Bill C‑284, under Private Members' Business.
Links & Sharing
(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)
