Mr. Speaker, February is heart awareness month. Cardiovascular disease remains Canada's leading cause of death and one of the major causes of disability. More than 79,000 Canadians die every year from heart disease and stroke.
Besides the human toll of the disease, the cost to the economy is considerable, about $20 billion per year and more than 6.5 million days of hospitalization.
We are making great progress in fighting cardiovascular disease. Strokes and heart disease are caused by our lifestyle.
By eradicating smoking, promoting a healthy diet of physical activity, we can help Canadians in preventing and/or postponing the onset of this disease.
By investing in heart health, we can reduce significantly this disease. By mobilizing society as a whole, we can enhance—