Mr. Speaker, April is cancer month and a new global report on cancer just issued by the World Health Organization reveals the alarming prospect that cancer rates could increase worldwide by 50% by the year 2020. Already 12% of all deaths each year are directly cancer related.
This world cancer report states that fully one-third of these cancers can be prevented with urgent government action. It calls on all governments to begin to take such action today. That is necessary advice for the federal Government of Canada. Why not begin today on world health day?
Last fall the Auditor General reported the government still does not even have an effective surveillance system in place to monitor cancers. Not only are simple incident rates poorly monitored, but also missing is the analysis of risk determinants and treatment outcomes upon which any effective cancer reduction strategy can be based.
An effective national strategy could make Canada a world leader in reducing cancers. It is time for the government to finally take action, ban deceitful advertising by tobacco companies and bring in a national health public strategy today.