Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you very much to the panellists, especially to the kids, for coming here today. I'd like to thank my colleague Mr. Batters for suggesting that you come to committee. This has been quite a day for everyone, I think.
Everyone, regardless of their party, is very concerned about this issue. As chair of the juvenile diabetes caucus, and Ruby Dhalla is on the committee, I think all of us, including Dr. Bennett, Madam Gagnon, Penny Priddy, Dave Batters, and Pat Davidson, are involved outside this committee on this issue. We are very concerned.
I have two questions, one to Mitchell and the other to Madame Goulet and Robert.
First, at lunch today, Mitchell, who is from the great province of Manitoba, gave me a poem. I'd like to just read it into the record, if that's all right. I think it speaks a lot to the challenges that are faced.
Here is The Cure, by Mitchell Burke, special agent:
Happiness, Freedom, no more pokes
Normal like other kids,
And no more stupid jokes
Happiness, Freedom, no more pain
L - shots and N - shots
Washed down the drain
Happiness, Freedom, the silly questions all gone away,
No more frustration,
And treated normally for one whole day
Happiness, Freedom, no more lows
No tablets to chew,
No more silly diabetes woes
Happiness, Freedom, no more testing
No meter to carry,
And a lot more resting
Happiness, Freedom, when there's a cure
Back to normal and happy
And no diabetes stuff to endure.
Mitchell, I was caught by some things you said at the start of your poem, such as “no more pokes”, and “no more stupid jokes”. Can you explain to us the stigma here, or the attitude of your classmates and friends, how they challenge you on this issue, and what we can do as a society to create more understanding about the challenges you face?
I also have a question for the older people around the table. This committee is going to be reviewing the assisted reproduction act regulations that deal with issues around research, specifically around stem cell research. I wonder if you could explain JDRF's position on stem cell research.
Mitchell, and then Madame Goulet.