Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate an organization close to my heart, Asthma Canada, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
In 1974, patients, parents, community members and leading physicians created an organization dedicated to helping Canadians with asthma lead healthy lives. Since then, its mission has been to ensure Canadians living with asthma enjoy a symptom-free life.
There are 4.6 million Canadians who live with asthma; I am one of them. Asthma attacks lead to approximately 70,000 hospitalizations and 250 deaths every year. It is serious.
As the former president and CEO of Asthma Canada, I saw the hard work done by physicians, nurses, researchers, educators, administrators and volunteers striving to engage, advocate, inform and treat people living with asthma in a patient-centred health charity.
Congratulations, Asthma Canada, on 50 years of excellent work. We look forward to 50 more years.