Mr. Speaker, prostate cancer kills more men in Canada than any cancer except lung cancer. The treatment of the 20,000 men who are expected to be diagnosed with prostate cancer in Canada this year will cost our health care system approximately $300 million.
The medical community considers prostate cancer as the male equivalent of breast cancer. Their incidence and mortality rates are very similar. Both diseases are very serious and are analogous as both are hormonal.
The government promotes itself on gender equity. Perhaps it is time to rethink its definition of equal. Before allocating any money for medical research, I urge the government to base its decisions on scientific, measurable and transparent criteria. Fairness across the board is the only way.