Mr. Speaker, today is Health Research Day on the Hill. It is a time to celebrate the accomplishments of Canada's health research community and to consider their future goals and needs.
Today I was pleased to meet with representatives of the Council for Health Research in Canada. They emphasized the benefits of research in containing costs and, more important, in improving health. They also shared examples of groundbreaking health research. An example is the international attention that has focused on the Edmonton protocol, where scientists using liver islet transplants have provided new hope for diabetic patients formerly dependent on insulin injections.
It is estimated that this year Canadians will donate $300 million to health research. Many more dollars will be given in contributions through government grants. These are precious dollars and should be spent not in ways that divide Canadians but in ways that Canadians can be proud of.
The Canadian Alliance salutes the hard work and the dedication of those who strive to provide a healthier future for all of us.