Mr. Speaker, palliative care is designed to alleviate suffering. It is specialized care for the seriously ill and their family. The basic idea is to ensure the comfort and dignity of terminally ill patients.
One Canadian in ten is caring for someone who is seriously ill. We know that 80% of Canadians in the last stages of their life would rather stay at home, surrounded by their relatives, to receive care. This means that, in 25 years, one labour force participant in two will be caring for a relative at home.
In response, the Liberal government has put in place special measures, such as the establishment, in budget 2003, of eternity leave and the development of a strategy to improve end of life care.
This week is National Hospice Palliative Care Week. This is a time to honour those who, through their dedication, care for the seriously ill till the end.