moved for leave to introduce Bill C-206, An Act to establish a national strategy on brain injuries.
Mr. Speaker, June is Brain Injury Awareness Month, so I am pleased to introduce a bill today that calls on the Minister of Health to develop a national strategy on brain injuries. The theme of this year's campaign is “Beyond the Injury”, which aims to raise awareness about the impacts brain injuries can have on the lives of those who have suffered injuries, as well as on their loved ones.
Brain injuries can occur in a variety of ways, including accidents, illnesses and strokes. Each brain injury is unique, with the potential to cause physical, cognitive, emotional and behavioural effects. It is estimated that 1.6 million Canadians are living with a brain injury.
A national strategy on brain injuries would include measures to reduce brain injuries, improve training for health care professionals and identify challenges associated with brain injury, like problematic substance use and homelessness.
I want to thank the member for Winnipeg Centre for seconding the bill. Her sister, Gina Carradine, suffered a brain injury, so the bill is personal to the member. I would also like to thank the former member for Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, Alistair MacGregor, who championed the bill in the last Parliament.
In the previous Parliament, the bill passed unanimously in the House in June 2024, but did not get to the Senate due to the stagnation of Parliament in the fall of 2024. I am deeply honoured to carry this very important work forward, and I hope all members will support the bill again.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)