Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to inform the House that May has been proclaimed Huntington Disease Awareness Month by the Huntington Society of Canada.
Huntington disease is a fatal hereditary brain disorder which slowly destroys both the mind and body. Symptoms include involuntary jerking, slurred speech, and mental and emotional difficulties which relentlessly become worse over the lengthy course of the disease. There is no cure or effective treatment. One in every thousand Canadians is affected by Huntington disease: he or she has it, is at risk of developing it, or is caring for someone who has it.
The mandate of the Huntington Society of Canada is to improve the quality of life for these people through service and education programs.
Please join me in wishing the Huntington Society of Canada a very successful Huntington Disease Awareness Month.