Mr. Speaker, On Sunday, May 5, the world celebrated the International Day of the Midwife.
Midwives and the profession of midwifery are represented nationally by the Canadian Association of Midwives. Their mission is to provide leadership and advocacy for midwifery as a regulated, publicly funded and vital part of the primary maternity care system. Midwives have been identified as key to achieving reductions in maternal and infant mortality.
A recent UNICEF report found that Canada ranked 22 out of 29 developed countries for infant mortality rates. This is mostly attributed to the higher rates among aboriginal communities, where women must leave their community for weeks to give birth in urban centres, away from their families and support systems.
Midwives provide a safe, effective and low-cost solution to Canadian women and are well positioned to address the specific challenges faced by women in rural, remote and aboriginal communities across Canada.
Colleagues, please join me in celebrating the practice of midwifery in Canada and thanking midwives for the health services they provide to Canadians.