Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Ms. Jormanainen and Mr. Van Loan, for sharing something so personal.
I'm going to start with the financial side. Most people want to live at home; they want to be with their families. I think people need to understand the costs involved when families aren't supported. They're often forced to go into care. The cost of long-term care per year is about $200,000. A wheelchair is about $4,500. Power wheelchairs are $18,000 to $30,000.
I know that the provinces loan equipment. Ontario is loaning about 1,200 pieces of equipment, but the number of clients, as Ms. Jormanainen mentioned, is increasing by about 15%. The requests for equipment have increased by 67% since 2007, and the society does not receive government funding. I think 40% of ALS families live in poverty. You have the loss of two incomes, and spouses and children become the primary caregivers. Then you have home renovations.
My greatest concern is that we care for people and support the family. People living with ALS want to be heard. They want to be seen. They want to be contributing members of society, and their children need some sense of normalcy.
So what is the best way that we can support families to maintain their dignity and humanity?