Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to be here tonight to talk about this wonderful bill. I thank my colleague for Edmonton Manning for sharing his story and his passion.
Before beginning my remarks on Bill C-234, I want to offer this House a brief update on our former colleague, well known to many here. My predecessor, Richard Cannings, recently underwent major surgery. I am really pleased to share that he is on the road to a full recovery. He served our communities in the south Okanagan and in West Kootenay with dedication and integrity for a decade. I know members across party lines will join me in wishing him strength and good health.
This is my first opportunity to rise and thank all the volunteers for Remembrance Day last week. There was an amazing turnout at the many legions and cenotaphs across my riding and across Canada.
Tonight I rise in support of Bill C-234, the living donor recognition medal act. This legislation proposes the creation of a national medal to honour Canadians who have donated one or more organs during their lifetime. Whenever possible, this medal would be presented publicly by a representative of the Crown, a senator or a member of Parliament, similar to how other honours, such as the King's Coronation Medal and the Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers, are awarded.
I have learned a lot since seconding this bill, and I cannot help but be touched by it. The intention is clear: to recognize extraordinary acts of generosity, to raise public awareness and, ultimately, to encourage more Canadians to consider becoming living donors.
The need for donors in our country is significant and urgent. According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, at the end of 2024, more than 4,000 Canadians were waiting or temporarily on hold for an organ transplant, yet only 590 living donations occurred that year. Even when we consider posthumous donations, the gap between what is needed and what is available remains far too wide.
For patients on waiting lists, the passing of time adds not only emotional strain but medical complexity. Their conditions can often worsen as they wait. Many spend weeks, sometimes months, in hospital, unable to return home or resume normal life because they are waiting for a donor match that may never arrive. These extended stays place enormous pressure on families and caregivers, and they increase the strain on an already overburdened health care system.
Beyond the strain, the consequences can be tragic. In 2024, 217 Canadians died waiting for organ transplants. Behind each number is a family, a grieving spouse, a child or a parent whose loss may have been preventable. Recognizing people who choose to become living donors is not simply symbolic; it is part of creating a culture that encourages more Canadians to step forward and save lives.
Living donation is really an act of extraordinary compassion, as we heard our colleague speak to earlier. It is personal. Living donors often describe the experience as life-changing, not only for the recipient but for themselves. Many speak about a renewed sense of purpose, a deepened appreciation for their own health and an unbreakable connection to the person they have helped.
In my own community, I was moved by the story of local Shelley Hunt from Penticton, who chose to donate a kidney to a stranger. Her story was featured in the documentary called Because I Can, which highlights the power of living donation. Shelley said something that stayed with me. She said she constantly says that she wished kidneys grew back because she could do it again and again. That kind of spirit, that quiet, unwavering generosity, is exactly what this bill seeks to honour.
When the member for Edmonton Manning introduced this legislation, he asked me to second it, and I was proud to do so. I also offered the following words in support: The choice to be an organ donor is made without expectation of reward, but the Canadians who make this choice are choosing to save a life. Their courage deserves recognition.
I am not alone in this sentiment. Members from other parties have offered powerful endorsements, as we have heard. One colleague said that living organ donors embody the highest ideals of generosity, compassion and humanity. Another said that in honouring living organ donors, we celebrate a quiet heroism that saves lives and strengthens the fabric of our nation. A third added that the bill rightly honours living donors, recognizing the selfless gift of life that they provide and the profound impact they have on our health care system and our communities.
These comments were made by a New Democrat, a Liberal and a Green member. They were the words of the members for Vancouver Kingsway, South Shore—St. Margarets and Saanich—Gulf Islands. Their support reflects a genuine consensus on an issue that transcends partisanship.
It was nice to hear the support of my colleague from the Bloc Québécois. It was great to hear that Quebec has such a long and proud history of leadership in organ donation. I have heard stories of organ donors in Quebec, of donors who stepped forward for strangers, neighbours and loved ones, people who also deserve to be recognized nationally.
I am often asked by constituents why political parties cannot work together more often. I always say we can. The public may not always see it, but co-operation does happen. This bill is a perfect example of how members from every corner of this House can come together when we focus on what is most important: the lives and well-being of Canadians. As a new member, this makes me proud to be in this House and to be in this country.
Before concluding, I want to acknowledge the sponsor of this bill, the member for Edmonton Manning. His advocacy for this legislation is shaped by a deeply personal experience. He himself is a living donor, donating to his young son and giving him not only an organ but a future. His courage and the courage of so many living donors across the country are a powerful reminder of what this legislation seeks to honour.
Bill C-234 sends the simple yet profound message that living organ donors deserve national recognition for the life-saving act they provide. This medal would not create donors on its own, but it would shine a light on Canadians who choose to step forward. It would help normalize living donation, encourage conversation, inspire others and celebrate extraordinary generosity.
We may never know how many future transplants start because someone attended a medal ceremony or heard the story of a donor in their own community. If this honour encourages even a few more Canadians to consider giving the gift of life, the impact will be immeasurable.
For all these reasons, I strongly urge all members of this House to support Bill C-234. Let us stand together to recognize the Canadians whose generosity saves lives, strengthens families and gives hope to the thousands waiting for a second chance.