Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table one of many petitions regarding Canadians with vision loss. It is expected that this problem will double in the next 20 years. The petitioners indicate that the emerging crisis in eye health and vision care affects all segments of the Canadian population, especially the vulnerable population. Just one per cent of total expenditures on vision loss is invested in post-vision loss rehabilitation therapy.
Petitioners are asking the government to commit to acknowledging eye health and vision care as a growing public health issue and respond to it, particularly for Canada's vulnerable population, through the development of a national framework for action to promote eye health and vision care.
These petitioners are from Ontario, B.C., Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan.