Mr. Speaker, this is Organ Donor Week. Sadly, Canada has one of the worst organ donor rates in the entire developed world. This year alone 150 Canadians will die while waiting for a transplant. Some will be children, some will be adults and many will die unnecessarily.
We can change all of that. The following are some suggestions that the Minister of Health can employ today: First, create a national organ registry of potential recipients, link this registry up with hospitals across the country and have a registry of intended donors; second, that there be a form on every patient's chart so a person can be asked to be a donor and have their wishes express to their family; third, have an organ procurement co-ordinator in every hospital; fourth, that a pool of funds be available for transplantation; and, fifth, require that all deaths be reported to the national registry.
During Organ Donor Week, I implore every Canadian across the country to sign up, be an organ donor and save a life.