Good morning. Thank you very much to the members of this committee for the invitation to appear here today. I'm happy to be here again, and I'm pleased to see that significant progress has been made on CETA since the last time I was here.
Before I begin, I'd just like to take a minute to acknowledge the gathering of the G-8 leaders who are meeting in London tomorrow for a special summit on dementia. This ambitious summit aims to put measures in place that will lead to major improvements in dementia care and research. The Alzheimer Society of Canada will do its part to make sure this happens. In fact, our CEO, Mimi Lowi-Young, is part of the Canadian delegation, which is led by the Minister of Health, the Honourable Rona Ambrose, and includes the Alberta Minister of Health, Fred Horne.
This group will work with other G-8 health ministers to explore how we can put more funds towards dementia research and drug development. The G-8 summit on dementia is our once-in-a-generation chance to conquer this fatal disease. The Alzheimer Society is in London to ensure that meaningful action takes place long after this meeting is over.
The G-8 summit is relevant to our discussion today. Member countries of the G-8 are rich with innovative ideas that will lead to more research and development so that more effective treatments are produced to help Canadians living with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.
If you were at my last presentation, you may recall that the theme to this committee was about creating an environment in Canada that produces the best research and the most innovation. While it has been a couple of years since I last spoke to you, my message has not changed. It is important to remember that agreements like CETA have the ability to significantly improve the quality of life of individuals with chronic diseases such as dementia.
Recently the Alzheimer Society of Canada had the opportunity to meet with ministers Rona Ambrose and Ed Fast in Ottawa to discuss CETA. We're very pleased that this important committee is interested in hearing from the Alzheimer Society again today.
I'd just like to take a moment to tell you a little bit about who we are, what we do, and why research and innovation matters so much to the more than 747,000 Canadians who are living with dementia today. The Alzheimer Society is Canada's leading nationwide health charity for people living with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. Since 1978 the society has served as the voice for people living with this disease. We are present in over 150 local communities across Canada where programs and services are delivered directly to people with dementia and their caregivers. Our mission is to alleviate the personal and social consequences of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias and promote the search for causes, treatments, and a cure.
I'd just like to speak briefly about the size, the scope, and the implications of dementia in Canada today. Dementia, of which Alzheimer's disease is the most common form, is a huge threat to our public health system and to our nation's productivity. By 2040 Canada will be spending $293 billion a year on this disease alone. Today the combined direct and indirect costs of dementia total $33 billion a year.
While we have the best minds in Canada and around the world dedicated to finding a cure and new interventions, we still need a fully coordinated response to curb increasing costs and meet the crushing needs of individuals and families impacted by this disease, which is profoundly life-altering and ultimately fatal.
Over the past few months, the Alzheimer Society of Canada has been meeting with our federal government and MPs, including some of you, about our solution to Canada's dementia crisis. Research and innovation are clearly part of our solution. You will keep hearing from us about this in the months ahead. Specifically, we have proposed that the government create a Canadian Alzheimer's disease and dementia partnership to lead and facilitate the development and implementation of a national dementia strategy.
How does this all fit with what I'm here to talk to you about today? Research is at the core of what 747,000 Canadians living with dementia need. Intellectual property issues will have an enormous impact on the development of new medications as well as the ability of industry to invest in our research efforts here in Canada.
It's crucial that Canada continue to take a leading position in research and development to ensure that Canadians have access to the best and most innovative treatments possible. These opportunities can only have a positive impact on our health care system and our economy, and spur investment in further research. This in turn will help pave the way towards more effective dementia treatments for Canadians, and possibly even a cure.
Diseases like Alzheimer's are so complex that we need to significantly increase our investment in research and development. We fear that without a clear demonstration of Canada's support, promotion, and nurturing of innovation, key industry partners may abandon research into Alzheimer's disease altogether in Canada.
In order to ensure that our country is on even ground with research efforts around the world, including Europe, trade barriers must come down to encourage research and development in Canada. People with dementia and their families will win.
We don't know the cause or the cure, and we do not have effective treatments for the progression of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias—yet. That's why CETA matters. Canadians want and deserve the same access to innovation as our American and European counterparts. Innovation means support for more research, drug discovery, and, importantly, access to key clinical trials.
As a significant investor in research for the past 25 years, the Alzheimer Society knows this as well as anyone. We need to continue to take up the challenge and maintain our role as international research leaders.
The last time I presented before this committee, I left you with a quote from the February 2011 report of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. It's important, and I would like to take a moment to repeat it:
Despite having only .5% of the world population, Canada produces 5% of the world's new knowledge in Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, and over the past four years, 15% of the most influential publications.
We cannot afford to let that kind of momentum be stopped. The long-term investment in drug development matters. We believe that reforming IP standards for medicines in Canada will position our country as a world leader and will result in increased chances of Canadians getting access to newer medications.
I'm thankful for the hope that you as legislators are giving today to those living with complex conditions like dementia, and I'm thankful that Canada will lead in research development and in innovation for the long term.
We at the Alzheimer Society also recognize the important work of this committee as it relates to furthering Canada's trade agreements and the impacts they have on fostering research and innovation for new medications. Together, we can ensure that our country leads the way on research and development to create effective treatments for Canadians who are living with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. They need to have hope.
Thank you for your attention.