Finance committee  Obviously, we welcome the super credit. I'll just take the MS Bike Tour, which takes place in communities across the country. The average participant is a young parent in their thirties. They're athletic. Some of them are in the early phases of the disease, and they'll do a bike ride on a weekend.

Finance committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair and honourable members. On behalf of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, I thank you for the opportunity to speak to Bill C-60. The society's mission is to take a leading role in efforts to find a cure for this disease and to help people with multiple sclerosis improve their quality of life.

Subcommittee on Neurological Disease committee  I would tell you that the most important thing is really to mobilize the Government of Canada's role in funding research at a much increased pace—much increased pace. Our long-term recommendation is for an 80% increase to the budget of the CIHR—that would bring it to $1.8 billion—because that is fundamental to accelerate the translation of discovery into improved health for Canadians.

Subcommittee on Neurological Disease committee  We'll do that through the clerk.

Subcommittee on Neurological Disease committee  Thank you.

Subcommittee on Neurological Disease committee  These are early data, but there is no question that the work through the neurological study will cement that. There are all these questions of burdens of the numbers of people, and the growth in the prevalence rates as our population ages will obviously add robustness to those data.

Subcommittee on Neurological Disease committee  This is the date on which we will announce the results of our CCSVI research competition, which was launched early in the new year. On June 14, after the review by a panel of experts--vascular surgeons, interventional radiologists, MRI specialists, and neurologists--we will be announcing a series of research commitments to CCSVI research.

Subcommittee on Neurological Disease committee  Absolutely. Ms. Radley is correct that there has not been a vascular surgeon on our medical advisory committee. The recommendations for funding of research applications come through panels that are assembled for various competitions. In the context of the CCSVI competition, obviously that panel was assembled with the expertise that is relevant to that kind of research, and I note as well that we were the first to launch a competition.

Subcommittee on Neurological Disease committee  Absolutely. The list is on our website, so it's public information. I don't have it here. There are about 20 people, I would say. It's a large group.

Subcommittee on Neurological Disease committee  To look at the requests from both the American and Canadian research competitions in MS. Sorry, it's CCSVI.

Subcommittee on Neurological Disease committee  Let me just speak to one area. We talked about dementia. We talked about the very important work of the Alzheimer Society, and they play a very important leadership role in understanding the impact of dementia and loss of cognitive abilities. The reality is that in MS there are also associated issues of cognitive loss and depression.

Subcommittee on Neurological Disease committee  I think I might suggest that the answer to the question about disease-modifying therapies be given to you by someone who uses them. My colleague Joan Ozirny, who is a volunteer, referred to DMTs earlier. The evidence is substantial, but a personal account might be more useful.

Subcommittee on Neurological Disease committee  Thank you, Mr. Malo. That is a very important question. The funding is for research on CCSVI, obviously in relation to multiple sclerosis. The reason why are making this request is because this is urgent. Urgent action is required. The Quebec College of Physicians is one of the organizations that has decided not to make this treatment available, out of a need and concern for more evidence of its effectiveness.

Subcommittee on Neurological Disease committee  There are two things. One is that the initial call was very favourably responded to by the current government, with an investment of $50 million to the Public Health Agency to do research to better understand the distribution of the population. How many people are affected? What are the economic consequences of the distribution?

Subcommittee on Neurological Disease committee  Thank you, Dr. Duncan. As has been identified before, I think it's very important to note that the death followed a procedure that included the use of a stent. With balloon angioplasty, where a spring form is not lodged permanently in the vein, there has not been such adverse effects.