Petitions  Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition regarding chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency, CCSVI, for which the testing and treatment is safe, inexpensive and effective. The treatment of CCSVI is veinography followed by balloon venoplasty, a routine treatment for vascular disease made available to all Canadians with vascular disorders, except those with MS.

Petitions  I know that many members in this House support MS sufferers across the country in saying to the government that it must act now on CCSVI.

Subcommittee on Neurological Disease committee  Dr. Zivadinov in the United States described an association of 60%, and the presence of CCSVI in 22% of other neurological disorders under normal controls. A group from Jordan described the prevalence of MS in 84% with 0% in controls. Dr. Simka, who is actually listening to us, found an MS prevalence of CCSVI in 90% of cases.

Multiple Sclerosis  Poor venous flow can lead to major neurological problems. More than 1,000 people have now been imaged for CCSVI worldwide. It is clear that the majority of MS patients have vascular abnormalities. The angioplasty procedure shows that 80% to 97% of MS patients have vascular abnormalities and, in many cases, more than one major vessel is involved.

Multiple Sclerosis  Mr. Speaker, the scientific evidence is mounting regarding CCSVI. More clinical trials are about to begin in the United States, and Saskatchewan, New Brunswick and Newfoundland are taking action. More important, neurologists are quietly admitting that their patients are improving.

Health committee  As you know, we're monitoring ongoing diagnostic clinical trials very closely to determine whether the condition referred to as CCSVI exists, and whether there's an association and an increased prevalence between CCSVI and patients with MS. We're monitoring that closely, not only the studies that are being carried out in Canada but also the ones in the States and international trials as well.

Questions on the Order Paper  The provincial and territorial governments, in consultation with their respective physician associations, are primarily responsible for determining whether new treatments for CCSVI are medically necessary for health insurance purposes. With respect to Canadian Institutes of Health Research, through the CIHR, the government is funding health research on multiple sclerosis, MS.

Subcommittee on Neurological Disease committee  Zamboni's conclusions, which I think are worth repeating because they inform a lot of where a lot of the people in the room feel we need to go. They are as follows: CCSVI exists and is a serious obstruction, whether the patient has MS or not. CCSVI is significantly related to MS. Angioplasty corrects the blood flow from the brain. That correction helps people with MS.

Government Operations committee  The first annual progress meeting was held this past year in March. We also have heard a lot about CCSVI and MS. I was pleased to support the development of the ongoing national MS monitoring system, which will provide those with MS, health care providers, and Canadians with a better understanding of the disease patterns and the use of treatments.

Government Operations committee  On the CCSVI.

House debate  The House of Commons subcommittee has heard many different witnesses debate the merits of the recently developed chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency, or CCSVI, treatment brought forward by Italian researcher, Dr. Paolo Zamboni. It should be noted, however, that just a week and a half ago, at an MS conference in Gothenburg, Sweden, Dr. Zamboni himself indicated very clearly that more research is needed before patients proceed with surgery.

Supporting Vulnerable Seniors and Strengthening Canada's Economy Act  Madam Speaker, my colleague's knowledge of issues regarding health care is quite extensive and I congratulate her on her response a short time ago. I would also commend her for her work on CCSVI and MS. She has educated MPs from all parties on this issue in the last Parliament and I am sure will continue to do so in this Parliament. I want to go back to the climate change issue.

Petitions  The petitioners call on the federal Minister of Health and provincial ministers of health to discuss allowing hospitals, private clinics and individual doctors to test for and treat CCSVI in all Canadians who so desire testing and treatment and to plan and implement a nationwide clinical trial for the evaluation of venography and balloon angioplasty for the treatment of CCSVI in persons diagnosed with MS.

Petitions  The petition requests that the federal and provincial Ministers of Health discuss allowing hospitals, private clinics and individual doctors to test for and treat CCSVI in all Canadians who so desire testing and treating, and to plan and implement a nationwide clinical trial for the evaluation of venography and balloon angioplasty for the treatment of CCSVI in persons who are diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

The Budget  I would ask him, why the refusal to undertake a nationally-funded, multi-centred clinical trial to determine if treating CCSVI will improve the quality of life for MS patients?