Mr. Speaker, yesterday statements were read from both sides of the floor recognizing this week as Organ Donation Week and stressing the need for an improvement in Canada's organ donation rate.
The statistics clearly demonstrate the need for such improvements. Nevertheless, Organ Donation Week in 1999 offers a great deal of hope to Canadians that this situation can change for the better.
This morning, I and my colleagues on the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health released our report on the state of organ donation and transplantation in Canada. Our recommendations highlight ways in which the federal government can work in concert with the provinces and hospitals to improve organ retrieval systems, information systems, and increase public and professional awareness.
Similar changes were implemented in Spain just 10 years ago and resulted in a radical increase in their organ donation rate. It is my sincere hope that our recommendations will lead to similar, perhaps better, success for our great country.