Mr. Speaker, Ottawa is host to the 21st National Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Alzheimer Society of Canada. More than 300 men and women dedicated to finding a cure for this terrible disease are in attendance.
Over 300,000 Canadians suffer from Alzheimer's and related dementia. One in thirteen Canadians over the age of 65 are afflicted, as are one in three over the age of 85.
More than 50% of people suffering from Alzheimer's live outside of care facilities. Still the cost to medicare averages some $15,000 per person per year, or some $4.5 billion annually.
Early in the next century, Canada's 8.5 million baby boomers will be moving into the age group with the highest risk of contracting Alzheimer's disease. There will be unprecedented demands for health services in Canada as a result.
Today, conference delegates will be calling MPs to discuss the society's goals and the roles that legislators can play in their realization. I encourage all colleagues to meet with them.