Mr. Speaker, this Sunday we celebrate World Alzheimer's Day. In Canada we recognize that Alzheimer's and related dementia diseases harm 750,000 Canadians, a figure that will double in a generation. Add to this the three or four caregivers each patient typically has. Some 73% of all Canadians say that they know someone who is suffering from Alzheimer's. These are our partners, parents, grandparents, friends, neighbours and co-workers.
Canada remains one of the few G8 countries without a national plan. The recent commitments to research are good, but not good enough. Canadians want Ottawa to lead. Our party supports a national plan. It would mean money, research, early diagnosis and intervention, strengthen the integration of primary, home and community care, help for caregivers and training for the dementia workforce.
Dementia is a non-partisan disease; we need a non-partisan solution.
Let us work together on a national dementia strategy.