Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to rise today to speak about an important piece of legislation, Bill C-234.
First, I would like to take a moment to recognize my friend, a Conservative colleague and the member for Edmonton Manning, as the sponsor of this bill. His hard work, dedication and personal experience with living organ donation is truly inspiring.
This bill supports a low-cost solution that can have a huge impact for Canadians. I believe that Bill C-234 can be supported by all parties in the House and by all Canadians.
Every Canadian has their own personal experience with health. Regardless of age, sex, culture or background, our health and well-being determine how well we live our lives. Every day our actions directly affect our health. From taking daily vitamins to watching our diets or making some time for exercise, we take actions because our health impacts our quality of life. At the end of the day, we all have to have our health. While many Canadians are fortunate to lead healthy lives, there are many who struggle with health challenges. Unfortunately, we all know friends, family members and neighbours who have spent months or even years facing serious health issues, fighting a terminal illness or a chronic disease.
Here in Canada, we must recognize that our health care system is broken. Right now, 6.5 million Canadians do not have access to a family doctor. Canada is short at least 23,000 doctors and 60,000 registered nurses. Health care workers are burnt out from millions of hours of overtime. Emergency rooms are closing across the country. A recent report by the Canadian Institute for Health Information revealed that between April 2024 and March 2025 there were more than 16 million unscheduled emergency department visits in Canada. That is up from almost 15.5 million in the previous year. It is a harsh reality, but we must recognize that Canadians are literally dying as they wait for care.
However, not all Canadians are waiting in the same line. Some Canadians have needs that cannot be met with a doctor's appointment or getting a prescription. This brings me to the key component of Bill C-234. Right now, there are 4,700 Canadians on a wait-list to receive a life-saving organ transplant. A common misunderstanding is that life-saving organs can only come from deceased donors. That is not true.
Canadians may not realize how living organ donation works. Living organ donors bravely step up and give all or part of their own organ for those who need it. Part of this process depends on availability of organs, which is based on medical compatibility between the donor and the recipient. That means, depending on the organ, the donor organ must match in blood type, tissue type and size to ensure it is accepted by the body of the recipient. After this donation, these heroes then recover and continue on with their lives.
Bill C-234 seeks to formally recognize those brave living organ donors by recognizing this priceless gift they gave. It establishes the formal presentation of a medal by a representative of the Crown, a senator or a member of Parliament. The legislation honours those individuals who have donated one or more organs here in Canada.
Unfortunately, Canada's organ donation rate is low. Having a formal process of recognition would shed light on this problem and encourage more people to give. We know there are 4,700 people currently on the transplant wait-list and each of their lives is at risk. They could be our family, friends or neighbours. Anyone, regardless of their health, can suddenly require an organ donation and have their name added to the list.
Living organ donors give the gift of life. I want to highlight the impact they have on the lives they save. Of the 4,700 people in need of an organ, 75% specifically require a kidney transplant. Living organ donors are special because they can meet this demand. That is because, despite being born with two kidneys, the human body can survive with just one. We can also safely donate part of our liver, as it will continue to grow back and function. Regardless of the situation, life for Canadians waiting to receive an organ donation is extremely challenging. Needing a donation means their lives are on hold and their health outcomes get worse the longer they wait.
I would like to look specifically at individuals on the wait-list for a kidney transplant, who represent three-quarters of the 4,700 individuals on the wait-list. Without functioning kidneys, they could be forced to undergo multiple dialysis treatments every week just to stay alive. Each treatment causes stress and takes hours of their time.
I represent the constituency of Riding Mountain, a region of Manitoba that is larger than the province of Nova Scotia. Patients and their families needing dialysis in our area could be forced to drive hours just to get to a facility where they could receive the treatment. In most cases, these people would also need to take time away from their jobs. This may add financial strain on top of the heavy emotional toll that comes with this difficult process. Each person on the wait-list is living these realities. That is why the generosity of one person is so remarkable and life-changing.
A living organ donor can volunteer to sign up for a donation, be tested to find a medical match, schedule and have their surgery, and then continue leading a healthy and normal lifestyle after donating. Members can think about that. A single organ donation can save a life, freeing a fellow Canadian on the wait-list and their family from this immense burden of uncertainty. Canadians already do this. They give without compensation for their life-saving donation. It is hard to imagine a more significant example of generosity and compassion than volunteering to give a piece of oneself to a person in need.
Canadians have a proud reputation for being kind and have a long history of organ and tissue donation. The priceless value of life and the special connection that exists between the organ donor and the recipient cannot be overstated. One remarkable act can extend another person's precious life and drastically improve the quality of it, and yet, here in Canada, we do not have a process for formally thanking these brave heroes for their gifts. When I think of the sacrifice, I think of our men and women in uniform. Whether military or first responders, they are exceptionally brave every day. We recognize these individuals for their continued service to Canada. We recognize volunteers and those who are generous in the name of a good cause, but we do not have a formal process to acknowledge living organ donors. I believe these donors exemplify each of these characteristics, and they deserve more than a simple thank you.
However, recognizing these individuals is just one part of the potential that Bill C-234 would have if passed. Bill C-234 could also be a source of education for Canadians who may not realize how to sign up to be a living organ donor. It could help with misunderstandings about organ donations by honouring those who have successfully donated. We could spark public awareness to encourage more conversations about donations.
A crucial recognition that Bill C-234 would put into law would not just honour those who have donated; I believe it would inspire others to donate as well. If more Canadians know about living donation as a way to contribute, the wait-list can shrink. More donations means fewer people waiting for an organ donation while their lives are at risk. It means getting them out of hospital beds and back to being productive members of society. It means they can work again and live with the dignity they deserve. It also means that thousands of health care dollars can be saved on treatments like dialysis. It can open up more hospital beds when Canadians need them. As Canada faces significant challenges with our health care capacity, it is important to seek simple solutions. Bill C-234 is a solution.
With that, I ask for unanimous consent to pass the bill at second reading.