Bill C-234

Living Donor Recognition Medal Act

An Act respecting the establishment and award of a Living Donor Recognition Medal

This enactment establishes a medal to be awarded to admissible persons who have donated one of their organs during their lifetime without profiting from their donation.

Living Donor Recognition Medal Act

[Ziad Aboultaif, Conservative, Edmonton Manning, AB]

moved that the bill be read the third time and passed.

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to rise today for the final time in support of my private member's bill, Bill C-234. When passed, this bill will pave the way for the creation of the living donor recognition medal within the Canadian honours system. This bill has been supported by all parties, and I am extremely grateful for the unanimous and strong support. I know there is significant interest in getting this initiative under way. The sooner we can get this bill to the Senate, the better. The good news is what we have heard tonight. I thank members for all the support on all the sides, especially the government side.

I am extremely grateful to the following members of Parliament who graciously traded their coveted spots in the lineup so that I could move this debate up six weeks to this day. I thank the member for Cariboo—Prince George, the member for Lanark—Frontenac and the member for Newmarket—Aurora for making these critical trades with me. We now have the opportunity to get this bill to the Senate before the summer. Like donors, they received nothing in return for their gift except the knowledge that they did the right thing. They took action that will save a life and send a strong signal to those around them that organ and tissue donation is a significant and altruistic gift. I cannot thank them enough.

This bill is jointly seconded by members from all provinces across Canada and demonstrates the need for life-saving transplants in all corners of this great nation. I have spoken about the importance of living donors many times, and I know others have too, but I want to make some remarks about how these life-saving transplants impact those around the recipients.

When we waited for nine years for my son Tyler to get his transplant, it transformed our lives and his, and I know it was especially difficult for his brother. I know it is the same for thousands of other families awaiting that special phone call to say they have an organ to transplant. To ensure patients are available for a transplant, they must remain within an hour of the hospital at all times. This is much harder than it sounds. It is almost like house arrest. Families cannot take vacations together. Families cannot travel to other cities over the holidays to see relatives. Kids cannot join sports teams that play outside the city. In our case, Tyler could not visit his grandparents overseas for a decade, and we had to forget about overnight camps, out-of-town school trips or even sleepovers. There was constant fear that the call would come and we could not get there in time.

In this situation, every night, parents go to bed making sure the phone is ready. Every morning, they wake up making sure that they did not miss a call. The accumulative stress is unimaginable. It determines where one works or if one accepts a job because travel may be involved. Parents must forget about a few glasses of wine at dinner because they may have to drive to the hospital. It has an impact on every part of the life of the parents and their families.

All parents strive to treat their kids equally and give them all the same opportunities, but when someone in the family needs a transplant, it makes it so difficult. The days and weeks parents spend at the hospital with one child means they are not always there for the others. It is tough on everyone, but it has to be done. When the transplant comes, it is a new lease on life for the recipient and the family as a whole. Everyone gets to start living again.

We need to bring that relief and joy to more families more often. This is why the living donor recognition medal is so important. It is to raise awareness and education, in the hopes that more people get those transplants sooner.

The bill has returned from committee stage when it received a number of friendly amendments. The amendments proposed by the government enhance the bill, strengthen its objective and make the intentions of Parliament clear. I thank the President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada for his efforts to make this bill a reality. I also want to thank Terence Scheltema for his professional approach and hard work with great communication skills in working across party lines to get this bill to this stage. Terence showed unique skills in handling this private member's bill from the beginning, when this was an idea, to become a reality now.

This is National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week across Canada. This designation made by Parliament was the result of the efforts of Liberal member of Parliament Dan McTeague in 1997, 29 years ago. Can members imagine if we could get this medal ready for presentation on the 30th anniversary next year?

Next week, the deadline for taxes comes for Canadians across Canada. For that first time, in Alberta and British Columbia, tax filers will be able to indicate that they want to become an organ and tissue donor through their tax forms. This was made possible because of my former Conservative colleague Len Webber's efforts in 2021. When Ontario added the question to its tax forms in 2022, it resulted in 2.45 million people saying they wanted to be a donor. I expect a couple of million more Canadians will add their names in Alberta and British Columbia this year.

We can all make a difference in the lives of others. We can all leave this place better than we found it, and we can all help our fellow Canadians. It is in this spirit that I put this bill forward, and I am grateful for the opportunity.

As this is the last time I get to rise on my bill, I want to thank everyone again for their incredible support and encouragement. It truly means a lot to me and those awaiting a life-saving transplant.

I know there have been discussions about this bill in the past. I am thankful for the support. I welcome continuing working on these efforts in the Senate to make this a reality.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the member for the manner in which he has identified an issue, he has stuck with the issue and he has garnered the support of virtually every member of the House of Commons.

I know, no matter what region of the nation we are in, people are genuinely concerned about organ donation. It is more of a comment than a question. I want to thank all those who were involved in making this particular legislation possible.

[Ziad Aboultaif, Conservative, Edmonton Manning, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I also thank the hon. member for his help and co-operation. The minister and the minister's team were so helpful in getting this common-sense bill through. It is about Canadians. It is about helping every Canadian. My family had to live through this for 20 years, and we know how much of a difference that makes. The bottom line here is that when we work together, we can make the impossible possible. This why we are here tonight.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for his work on this matter. I had the opportunity to speak at an earlier stage of his bill and took the chance to highlight Quebec's pioneering role in organ donation. More specifically, I outlined the history of Transplant Québec.

How does my colleague view this alignment and the fact that people outside Quebec will finally be able to share in Quebec's experience, enabling them to benefit from the improvements in these life-saving transplants?

[Ziad Aboultaif, Conservative, Edmonton Manning, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my hon. colleague for her speech at the second reading stage, as well as for reminding me about Quebec. As a family, we benefited in 2003 when we got a last-minute organ transplant from Quebec. I say that with a lot of pride, and I say that because I am very thankful for that opportunity. Quebec showed us the right example at the right time and will continue to do so.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for introducing this bill. I had the pleasure of speaking to the bill through its stages and supporting it. I looked forward to seeing it come through the committee stage. What really took me aback during this whole process was how many people reached out to me to say that this was so long overdue.

I really do want to thank the member for introducing this bill, for sticking with it and carrying this through. It is encouraging to hear that, from across the aisle, there is overall support in the House. It is kind of a good day in this Parliament.

[Ziad Aboultaif, Conservative, Edmonton Manning, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to take this opportunity to thank my hon. colleague. He is the shadow minister for health on the Conservative side. His guidance, his help, his wisdom and his direction helped me a lot to navigate this bill through. I am thankful for both his effort and his team's effort.

[Sonia Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I really want to say that I commend the member's approach. I know how passionate he is. I worked through it the last time with a previous Liberal member who was working very hard on this bill. It has come a long way and I am happy to see this.

I want to ask the member a question. This is also an awareness point of view, that all Canadians can now contribute to saving lives. Can you elaborate on that a bit?

[The Deputy Speaker, Tom Kmiec]

I cannot elaborate on it, but I will let the member for Edmonton Manning elaborate on it.

[Ziad Aboultaif, Conservative, Edmonton Manning, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I enjoy working with the hon. member. We travelled together on an international development mission to Nicaragua.

Yes, she is right. Awareness is the whole spirit of this bill. If we keep this in front of Canadians every day, that opportunity is going to encourage Canadians and educate them more on it. Not every family has to live through this to be able to learn how important it is to have a transplant and to have the organ at the right time. We are doing everything in our capacity to make this a reality, to bring that in front of Canadians, not just once every year or two, but sometimes on a daily basis. This bill will probably bring those opportunities in front of every Canadian to make sure we learn and we know about organ donation every day.

[Kristina Tesser Derksen, Liberal, Milton East—Halton Hills South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of Bill C-234, the living donor recognition medal act, and I am so honoured to do so at its third reading here in the chamber before it moves to the Senate and, hopefully, soon becomes law in this land. It is with great honour that I stand here today to speak to an issue that continues to impact Canadians from coast to coast to coast. Across boundaries, cities, provinces and parties, Canadians know the importance of helping each other.

I want to begin by acknowledging the member for Edmonton Manning. This bill is not a political exercise for my colleague; it is personal. It is the legislative expression of a father's love, a family's faith and many years of walking hospital hallways and learning first-hand what it means to wait for the call that may or may not come. I thank my colleague for his advocacy of this bill.

In 2003, the member for Edmonton Manning entered an operating room and gave part of his own liver so that his son could live. It is not a small thing. It is an act of extraordinary courage, of a father who looked at the risk of his own life and decided without hesitation that his son's life would come first. Thanks to that gift, in part, and subsequent transplants, his son is alive today. That is what living donation looks like. That is who this medal would be for.

I want to speak today not only in support of the bill in abstract but also on behalf of a constituent in my riding whose story reminds me every day why legislation like this matters. My constituent's name is Jason. Jason is 54 years old and lives in Georgetown with his loving wife Angela and their three rambunctious dogs. He is a pipe welder. He loves hockey and pickleball, but he has not been able to play for a while.

Despite no known health issues and living a healthy lifestyle, Jason was first diagnosed with a fatty liver about 10 years ago. It progressively worsened year after year. When he developed cirrhosis of the liver some four years ago, it was verified from blood work that he had PSC, primary sclerosing cholangitis. PSC is an infection that attacks the inner and outer liver bile ducts, causing a blockage of bile to form inside the liver. With each occurrence, this weakens the liver, leading to severe liver damage.

When Jason told me about his PSC, I was struck by a rare coincidence, as my good friend and colleague, and long-time lawyer in my hometown of Milton, Ontario, Lorne Greenwood, also suffered from this rare condition. Lorne was fortunate to receive a full liver transplant from a deceased donor over 20 years ago. Lorne is a proud advocate of organ donation, since the gift of his donor saved his life and kept him here and healthy to raise his two daughters, as well as continue to serve his community through his professional work and volunteerism. In short, the donor gave not only to Lorne but also to our entire community. I told Lorne about my constituent Jason. It brought Lorne back to that time of uncertainty that, thanks to his donor, became a time of indescribable gratitude.

Just last October, Jason was placed on the liver transplant list. He is searching for a living donor who can give him the gift of time, of more mornings, of more seasons and of more years with the people he loves. I have spoken with Jason. I have sat with his family. Through them, I have learned that the question of whether Canada should do more to honour living donors is not an abstract policy question. It is a moral one. This bill answers that question with a clear and resolute response.

Let us look at what the data tell us. According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, as of December 31, 2024, there were 4,044 Canadians on transplant wait-lists. Of the 691 Canadians removed from the transplant wait-list in 2024, nearly one-third had died while waiting.

Just a few weeks ago, on April 7, we observed Green Shirt Day in honour of Logan Boulet, the Humboldt Bronco who tragically lost his life in that terrible bus crash in 2018, but his parents donated his organs so that six lives could live on. They did so because Logan told them that he was registering as an organ donor and that he was inspired by his coach and mentor, Ric Suggitt, who had died the previous year and was also an organ donor, saving six lives.

We are currently in the midst of National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week, which honours Canadians who have chosen to donate life-saving organs and tissue and recognizes transplant recipients embracing their second chance at life. By observing Organ Donation Awareness Month in April, communities nationwide come together to celebrate the generosity of donors and encourage more people to make the life-saving decision to register.

In Canada, almost 90% of Canadians say they support organ donation, but only 32% have actually registered the intent to donate. Living donation, where an individual can donate a kidney, part of a liver or part of a lung while they are still very much alive, has the potential to close the gap significantly. The ability of a healthy body to regenerate its liver, function fully with a single kidney or short a portion of a lung is nothing short of miraculous. However, to think that so few people seriously consider giving this life-giving gift is tragic. In the case of a liver donor, after they donate a portion of their liver, the remaining liver regenerates, grows back to nearly its original size and performs its usual functions.

There may be those of us who would contemplate becoming a living donor, recognizing that undertaking this act of altruism reduces the wait time for patients in need of a life-saving organ, like a kidney, partial liver or partial lung, but we may be apprehensive about the process, the financial burden through time off work or very practical things. For example, by agreeing to become a living organ donor, donors travel to and from a transplant hospital for a variety of tests and surgery, which may result in financial loss. However, some provinces offer a living organ donor expense reimbursement program, which reimburses some out-of-pocket expenses and makes it possible to be a living donor even when living far away from the recipient. The program is designed to remove financial barriers and increase the number of potential donors.

While Canada's provinces run our organ donation system, there is a role for federal government as well. From 2018 to 2024, Health Canada and its partners led and successfully completed the Organ Donation and Transplantation Collaborative, with implementation of the pan-Canadian governance body for organ donation and transplantation. This initiative continues to make improvements to system performance for better patient outcomes.

The member for Edmonton Manning said it plainly in his sponsor speech: Most of the people on wait-lists today could be saved by a living donor. That is a profound statement. It means that the answer is not only in our hospitals; it is in our communities, our neighbourhoods, our families and our co-workers. It is in the decision that an ordinary Canadian makes, after learning about living donation, to ask, “Could I be someone's second chance? Maybe I am someone's only chance.” That is exactly why recognition matters. It is why this medal matters.

Canada has a long and proud tradition of using national honours to signal to citizens what we value as a society. We give medals for bravery. We give medals for service. We give medals for artistic achievement and athletic excellence, but until now, we have had no formal recognition for someone who undergoes surgery voluntarily, at personal risk, with no expectation of compensation, to give another human being the organ they need to survive.

Bill C-234 would change that. The living donor recognition medal would be a national honour awarded to Canadians who donate an organ to a fellow Canadian while still living. If the bill passes, Canada would become only the second country in the world to formally include living donors in its national honours system. That is something to be proud of. That is a nation-building issue in the truest sense.

A medal tells a story. It changes a culture. It makes living donation visible in a way that has not yet been seen. It says to every Canadian, “This is something extraordinary people do. This is something you can do. You can be extraordinary through selflessly sharing a vital part of yourself with someone who needs it direly.” The bill generates conversation simply by existing.

I also want to commend the member for Edmonton Manning for the way he has pursued this work. He has done so with patience, with persistence and with a generosity of spirit that is characteristic of his approach to public life. He has noted on the record that he believes in working across party lines whenever possible and that when we work together, we get more done for Canadians. This bill is a testament to that belief. It has received support from multiple parties in this chamber, because the cause of saving lives does not belong to any one political tradition.

I think about my colleague across the aisle, who walked into that hospital in 2003 and gave a part of himself so his son could grow up. I think about the unnamed donors who followed, strangers who could not have known about the member's son but whose families made the decision in a time of grief to give part of their loved one so that others may go on. I think about the hundreds of living donors who make the same choice every single year in every province, town and riding, with no fanfare, no recognition and no medal, but we can help. A medal is a small gesture in one sense, but what it represents, the gratitude of a nation and the recognition of something rare and precious in the human spirit, is not small at all.

Jason tells me that once his health improves, after the donor and transplant that he prays for make him healthy again, he hopes to return to the hockey rink, to the pickleball court and to walking those dogs with his wife, and to get back to his work. The person who can make that happen for Jason is out there. That person could be watching this speech. That person could be the first recipient of the living donor medal that my colleague has conceptualized and now presents to this House. For Jason, and for every Canadian sitting by the phone tonight waiting for a call, every day that we delay is a day that matters.

I urge all members to vote in favour of this bill, which truly emanates the Canadian spirit of selflessness.

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak to Bill C‑234, which seeks to create a living donor recognition medal.

I want to start by calling attention to my colleague from Edmonton Manning, who donated part of his liver to his son. An act of such profound compassion commands respect. For a living person to donate an organ is a big deal. It is rare, demanding and most of all, it can change a life.

The Bloc Québécois will vote for this bill. However, certain things need to be put into perspective. Long before this bill came along, Quebec had already taken the lead in organ donations and transplants. The first kidney transplant in Canada was performed in Montreal way back in 1958. In 1968, the country's first heart transplant was also performed in Montreal. Quebec is therefore a pioneer in the field and continues to play an important role to this day.

This role does not only involve medical advances. It is also about collective choices, a desire to organize its society and establish strong institutions. Take, for example, Transplant Québec. This organization was born out of a very real need. As transplants became more common, there was a need to improve the coordination of organ donation, removal and allocation. The work was done over time. It was built up. It was structured. Today, Transplant Québec plays a key role in coordinating organ donation and managing the wait list. That is an essential role. This is diligent work, carried out with compassion and with expertise developed here at home. In other words, Quebec did not just innovate. It built a successful model.

That is why the Bloc Québécois finds it unfortunate that the bill fails to mention Quebec's contribution in this regard. We can support a measure of recognition like this one, while remembering one simple thing: Donations can now be made within an organized framework because a system was built patiently over the years.

We must not lose sight of what is important. Behind all this, there are still people who are waiting for transplants. There are families living in uncertainty, and very often, difficult decisions are made in extremely trying times.

Organ donation is not just a medical issue. It is a matter of trust, support and organization. Indeed, a medal is a fine token of recognition. It is perfectly legitimate to want to highlight such exceptional acts. However, it is important to look at the bigger picture. We need to recognize the work of all those who make this possible on a daily basis: medical teams, coordinators and organizations. I am thinking of Transplant Québec, Héma‑Québec, Canadian Blood Services and all those who often work far from the spotlight but whose role is essential. They are the ones who make it possible to save lives. That is why it will be important to hear from these organizations in committee to ensure that this initiative reflects the reality on the ground and supports what already exists.

Ultimately, the question is simple. Do we want to recognize the gesture or do we want to encourage more people to participate?

The Bloc Québécois will support this bill, but we want to remind the House of the following: Recognizing donors is important. Recognizing the role of Quebec and its institutions is also important. Ensuring that more donations are made and more lives are saved is even more important. Let us not forget that this can happen to anyone and any family.

On a more personal note, I have signed my organ donor card. I urge my colleagues to do the same. It is a simple gesture, but it can save a life.

[Carol Anstey, Conservative, Long Range Mountains, NL]

Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to rise today in support of Bill C-234, introduced by my colleague and friend from Edmonton Manning. This is a bill I often speak about when I am home in Long Range Mountains and I am asked to share about my work in Ottawa, not only because it concerns heroic Canadians, but also because it demonstrates what can be achieved when members work collaboratively for the benefit of remarkable Canadians we have the honour of representing, individuals who make tremendous sacrifices for others.

It highlights Canadians who make an extraordinary decision to give a part of themselves so that someone else can live. It also brings awareness about the importance of living organ donation.

Today, I would like to begin with a story about two of these incredible Canadians that begins with a close family friend, Robin.

Robin's journey began when he was in his twenties. He was diagnosed with diabetes and, years later, learned that his kidneys were beginning to fail. Robin's illness was severe. For as long as I knew him, he spent much of his life unwell before eventually passing away. However, what always stood out to me was that, despite his illness, he remained the funniest person I knew. He never focused on his illness but instead lived his life to the fullest.

When our families would visit, we would all be crowded around him, waiting for the next funny story he would tell us. We hung on to his every word. He loved to laugh. In addition to his remarkable sense of humour, during his journey, like many Canadians with complex health challenges, he did not stop. He always kept going. He pushed through fatigue. He continued running the family business and focused on providing for his family.

Over time, it became clear he would need dialysis. For a year, Robin travelled back and forth to the hospital for treatment. Anyone who has experienced or witnessed dialysis knows how demanding it is physically, emotionally and mentally. It was during that time that his brother Dan stepped forward. Dan went through testing, hoping he might be a match, and he was. Without hesitation, he made the decision to donate one of his kidneys to his brother. That decision changed Robin's life but, as we know, transplantation is not without risk.

After a few months, the transplanted kidney began to fail. It was not rejection, something many are familiar with, but instead the reactivation of a virus that had been dormant. Within less than a year, the transplant had failed entirely. Robin was forced to return to dialysis, this time at home, using a hemodialysis unit.

His story does not end there. Seven years later, another person stepped forward, his sister, Mollie. Like her brother before her, Mollie went through testing. Like Dan, she made the decision to give a part of herself so that her brother could live a fuller, healthier life.

Both Dan and Mollie put their lives on hold: Their work, their routines and their responsibilities all took a back seat. They underwent major surgery and accepted real risks. They faced recovery periods that were not easy and yet they never described what they did as a sacrifice. They saw it as an act of love for their brother.

That is what living organ donation is. It is selflessness in its purest form, choosing to put someone else's life ahead of one's own comfort.

Thanks to his sister's donation, Robin was given a new lease on life. He was able to travel and spend time camping with his grandchildren. He was able to enjoy the moments that matter most, moments that might not have been possible otherwise. He remained deeply grateful, and his family remains deeply grateful, not just for the outcome but for the generosity that made it possible. The transplant gave Robin years of his life without dialysis, and that meant a much fuller life.

Robin's story is powerful but, unfortunately, it is not unique. Across Canada, there are thousands of similar stories of families, friends and even strangers stepping forward to give the gift of life, and yet, despite the profound impact of these acts, we do not have a formal national way to recognize living donors.

That is what Bill C-234 seeks to change. It proposes the creation of a living donor recognition medal to be included within Canada's honours system. It is not about reward, but about raising awareness and acknowledgement, saying in a meaningful and lasting way that what these individuals have done matters not just to the recipients, but to all of us as parliamentarians and Canadians. When someone steps forward as a living donor, they are not only saving a life, but also strengthening families, supporting communities and easing the burden on our health care system. They are quite simply giving a gift that cannot be measured.

Next week is National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week in Canada, a time to reflect on the importance of donation, to have conversations with loved ones and to consider how each one of us can make a difference. It is also a time to recognize those who already have.

Bill C-234 allows us to do that tangibly. It allows us as parliamentarians to come together and affirm something important, that acts of extraordinary generosity should not go unnoticed. It would be deeply meaningful to the Canadians who give so much of themselves to be recognized by the country they have helped strengthen.

Robin's story and the actions of his brother Dan and his sister Mollie remind us of what is possible when compassion leads the way. This bill is about honouring that compassion, ensuring that stories like theirs are not only told but remembered, and encouraging more Canadians to consider how they too might one day give the gift of life.

I am proud to support this bill and have this opportunity.

[Eric St-Pierre, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight in support of Bill C‑234, the living donor recognition medal act. This bill recognizes the courage, generosity and profound humanity of Canadians who choose to donate an organ during their lifetime. It is truly the gift of life.

I would like to begin by thanking the member for Edmonton Manning for his bill. Among other things, it is an important example of MPs working together across party lines. It shows that, when we set partisanship aside, we can work together to honour the best of Canada. I was particularly touched by this bill on a personal level. It reminds us that behind every donation lies a human story; a decision marked by courage, altruism and a deep commitment to others.

Every year, thousands of Canadians who are dealing with a potentially life-threatening illness are waiting for an organ transplant. Too many of them will not get one in time. The preamble of Bill C‑234 clearly describes this reality. It says that “thousands of Canadians are currently awaiting life-saving organ transplants” and that living donors make these transplants possible.

Organ and tissue donation is one of the most selfless acts a person can undertake. It is not compelled, does not offer material reward and often carries medical risk. Living donors step forward not for recognition, not for reward, but because they believe in the value of another human life. As the bill notes, they often do so at personal risk and with no expectation of reward. Their actions save lives and strengthen our communities by reminding us of the compassion and solidarity that define Canada at its best.

These are not small virtues, but the very qualities that strengthen our social fabric. When a Canadian chooses to donate an organ, they are saving a life. They are also helping families stay whole. They remind us and communities across the country of what is possible when people act with extraordinary kindness. Their actions really inspire us. They set an example for all of us in this House and for all Canadians.

Canadians are rightly proud of those who perform these acts of extraordinary generosity. To better demonstrate this pride, Bill C-234 proposes a formal mechanism, a national honour, to ensure their contributions are publicly recognized and celebrated.

This is a thoughtful and meaningful initiative. I want to thank the sponsor for bringing forward a bill that shines a light on the silent heroes among us.

Medals play an important role in our society. They are not merely symbolic objects. They represent incredible stories, sacrifices and contributions. They unite people by creating a shared sense of recognition and pride. They also shine a spotlight on actions that often take place in the shadows. By publicly honouring these contributions, they promote a sense of collective belonging. They inspire other Canadians to get involved, showing that every action, no matter how humble, can have a profound and lasting impact.

The King Charles III Coronation Medal was worn with pride by many Canadians. I even received a King Charles III Coronation Medal. It served not only as a recognition of service but also as a unifying symbol, bringing together individuals from different regions, backgrounds and professions under a shared sense of national appreciation.

These honours create a shared moment of pride, not just for recipients but also for their families, their communities and the country as a whole. They reinforce a collective identity grounded in generosity, service and compassion, and they remind us that acts of selflessness are not only worthy of recognition but are also foundational to who we are as a society.

I support the objectives of this bill, and I am pleased with the amendments that were drafted in collaboration with the bill's sponsor and adopted by the Standing Committee on Health.

The bill uses a very broad definition of “organ”. This definition explicitly includes all human tissue and encourages us to think more broadly about the spectrum of donation in Canada. Today, living donors provide not only organs, but also blood and bone marrow. That is why I am pleased that this committee review has also expanded the pool of eligible recipients for this medal to include bone marrow donors as well as blood donors who have demonstrated a significant and long-standing commitment to blood donation.

Consider bone marrow donation for a Canadian diagnosed with leukemia or other blood cancer. I must give a shout-out to my old best friend from undergrad, who passed away from leukemia at the young age of 25 and should have been in the House of Commons. We were studying political science together. This speech goes out to Damon Hartung and to all other victims of leukemia. Finding a match is often extraordinarily difficult. Canadians who step forward are volunteering to help a stranger survive. Those donors also give the gift of life, yet awareness remains very low. Many Canadians do not realize how pressing the need for bone marrow donors truly is, nor do they realize how straightforward the process of registering as a potential donor can be.

Similarly, blood donation, especially regular, repeat donation, is essential to the health of Canadians. We think of the Canadian Blood Services, which recognizes the selfless act of donation through the donor recognition medal, which is offered upon request and highlights the generosity and sacrifice of donors while also creating an opportunity to celebrate life-saving contributions. The Canadian Blood Services also acknowledges this altruistic commitment.

However, the bill would go further by making this recognition official at the national level, affirming that these acts are not only appreciated but are also essential to our society. These donors are also unsung heroes. Their contributions may be quieter, occurring many times over many years. Some people choose to donate plasma or platelets on a schedule that requires ongoing commitment and sacrifice. While blood donors do not face the same medical risks as organ donors, the cumulative impact on regular blood and plasma donors is immeasurable.

I recognize the non-partisan spirit that animates the sponsor of Bill C‑234, and I am glad that we were able to make the bill stronger together. It is kicking off a national conversation on how to honour the many donors who are saving lives. It will raise public awareness, support donor recruitment efforts and ultimately increase the number of Canadians who decide to donate organs.

This bill is a tribute to the people who voluntarily make organ donations to help others when they need help the most. It shows that Parliament and all Canadians value the contributions of living donors. Through non-partisan collaboration, we can ensure that this bill passes and that the important role of so many Canadians who choose to make organ donations gets recognition.

In conclusion, I support the objectives of Bill C‑234, and I encourage all members of the House to do the same. Let us honour the people who show up when times are tough, who represent the best of what we are and who remind us that compassion is one of this country's greatest strengths for good. The time has come to honour the people who give the gift of life.

[The Deputy Speaker, Tom Kmiec]

The hon. member for Edmonton Manning has up to five minutes for his right of reply.