Mr. Speaker, from April 23 to 29 many people will be wearing a small green ribbon. This symbol represents Canada's National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week.
It is vital to the success of our organ and tissue donation program that Canadians be made increasingly aware of the importance of their participation.
More than 3,700 Canadians are waiting for organ transplants, kidneys, hearts, lungs, livers, and thousands of others are in need of replacement core tissues, such as corneas, heart valves, bone grafts and skin. The success rate of such surgeries is upward to 90%.
I urge all Canadians to give serious thought to organ and tissue donation, complete a donors card and make sure their families are aware of their wishes.