Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to second and give my support to Bill C-239. Let me, at the outset, congratulate my good friend and colleague from London West for taking this significant and important initiative. It is not a new initiative. Others have put it to the House before, including the former member for Niagara Falls. Several efforts have been made to have the House do what other legislatures and other jurisdictions have already done. As my friend noted in the debate, this includes the United States which as a result of a proclamation by former President Bush is now observing the decade of the brain with considerable results. However I will come back to that.
First, let me read for the information of the House some portions of a handwritten letter that came to a member of Parliament from northern Ontario. In part it reads as follows:
"On May 21, 1992, our 20-year old daughter died from a malignant brain tumour. Our lives and the life of her only sister will never be the same". Later the parents who wrote this letter said: "Most people can only imagine the pain of standing at your child's side, helplessly watching her die. We believe that, had we known more about the symptoms of brain tumours, our daughter would have had medical attention sooner, would have lived longer and might even be writing this letter herself".
In the most graphic and eloquent terms, more so than I could express, this letter states very clearly why we need to have greater awareness, greater public profile for the brain and brain related diseases.
The parents wrote: "We believe, had we known more about the symptoms of brain tumours, our daughter would have had medical attention sooner, would have lived longer and might even be writing this letter herself".
The impressive aspect of this initiative by my friend from London West is that it has garnered so much support from the scientific community. The letters that have come to me and to other members of Parliament, but particularly to the member for London West, are very gratifying. People who know this issue inside out are saying in the most urgent terms: "Let us do it. Let us declare this the decade of the brain because it will have the effect of focusing awareness on an important issue: issues related to prevention, research, treatment and rehabilitation in this vital area". That is why literally every organization that one could mention is on side.
We wonder at the list, such organizations as the Alzheimer Society of Canada, the Canadian Mental Health Association, the Canadian Brain Tissue Bank, the Canadian Paraplegic Association, Epilepsy Association of Metropolitan Toronto, Epilepsy Canada and Huntington Society of Canada. The list goes on.
Let me read excerpts from another letter from the dean of medicine at the University of Western Ontario. He says in part: "Allow me to speak in favour of the concept of the decade of the brain. It is truly an essential initiative from a number of perspectives in light of the discussions that are currently nationally relative to both research and the health care system". He makes two or three specific points. First, the dean of medicine of the University of Western Ontario talks about the aging population: "Increasingly we need to seek alternatives to institutionalizing older Canadians. With the passage of time AIDS tends to be associated with problems afflicting bone, bladder and the brain. In other words there is an increasing disease burden relating to fractures, incontinence and dementia that will affect our senior citizens and which results in the need for admission to hospital".
Then he talks about the impact it would have on disadvantaged children. In short he makes the case that what is needed is more focus on this important issue.
If I sound as though I am repeating myself on the issue of awareness, it is because the bill is such simple legislation. We are not asking for the expenditure of great gobs of public money. We are simply asking to enact a bill that will focus on this important issue. The effect will be felt in many areas.
Let me again demonstrate my point by reading from another letter, also from the dean of medicine at Western.
"As former vice-president of the North American Brain Tumour Coalition, I can relate to you that the declaration of the decade of the brain legislation in the United States has resulted in increased awareness of brain related disorders. This has occurred at local, state and national levels. The support for charitable organizations and for patients with tumour related
disorders has changed because of this legislation. Many pharmaceutical companies that I deal with use the decade of the brain logo on their letterhead and are fairly supportive. The decade of the brain legislation in the United States has resulted in a number of new initiatives which I have been involved with. As a member of the board of directors of the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada, I have interacted with several U.S. organizations. I can relay to you that there is a commonality of purpose in goals among our organizations. We are working together to help both Canadian and U.S. patients".
The point of the letter from the dean of medicine is the point of my speech, the point of the intervention made by my colleague from London West in introducing the legislation. The legislation, as simple as it is in its wording, will effectively focus attention on this very important issue. And so we should.
An estimated five million Canadians are affected by disorders of the brain ranging from stroke, degenerative disorders, problems with speech, language and hearing. Today these patients are justifiably hopeful as a new era is unfolding in brain research. We can help smooth that along a bit by giving our support to this very significant piece of legislation.