Motion M-235 Passes!
Private Members Motion M-235 was passed on February 14, 2007 by a margin of 225 for, and 49 against. This Motion stated that "the Minister of Health should continue to work collaboratively with Statistics Canada, the provincial and territorial cancer registries, and key stakeholders towards the ultimate goal of creating uniform national standards and guidelines for the surveillance of all malignant and benign brain tumours, including data collection, analysis and reporting."
"With the partnership and support of patients, families, the medical community, and all those who advocate for Canadians living with a brain tumour, I am proud to say that with passage of M-235 there will be positive impacts on the methods of brain tumour statistics collection in Canada," said Casey.
This was a strong acknowledgement that our parliament recognizes the importance of this issue to not just those people who are living with this disease, but to all Canadians. However, the passing of this Motion was just the first step. Now the real work begins on the design and development of these standards and guidelines.
Letters of congratulations and thanks to the Minister of Health would go a long way to help ensure that they realize this issue needs to be dealt with quickly. Therefore, the request is that you consider sending a letter to the Minister of Health. If you do choose to use the template, I would encourage you to take a few minutes to add some personal information of your own, as these letters have a greater impact then a simple "generic" letter, and feel free to compose your own letter. You can mail, email of fax it to the Minister of Health, contact information below. Just in case you are not aware, you do not need to put a stamp on any letter that you are sending to an M.P. via the House of Commons.
Finally, please forward this information on to any family and friends who might also consider sending a letter!
You can contact the Minister of Health via the info below:
The Honourable Tony Clement
Minister of Health
Confederation Building
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6
Fax: 613-992-5092
Email: Clement.T@parl.gc.ca
 Read a follow up letter to the Minister of Health here
For sample wording on your own follow up letter, click here
Main Story:
One mother’s mission to improve the way brain tumour statistics are collected across Canada culminated with the first federal debate of Private Member’s Motion M-235 in the House of Commons on December 12th. Jennifer Dempsey, working with her local member of parliament, Honourable Bill Casey (Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley, Nova Scotia), brought to national attention the need for a standardized system to greatly improve how brain tumour statistics are gathered across Canada.
The lack of consistent methodology and standards for determining totals has led to conflicting statistics. In 2003, the official numbers for current patients, new cases and deaths due to brain cancer/tumours was listed at 4,000, but estimates by the Canadian Alliance of Brain Tumour Organizations (CABTO) – an alliance of volunteer organizations – and Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada, a national body who provides support, education, information and funding for brain tumour research, report estimated totals of 55,000 people surviving with a brain tumour, with approximately 10,000 more newly diagnosed each year.
Read the first House of Commons debate transcripts here
View the Official Hansard Transcript of the M-235 House of Commons Debate on February 12, 2007 here
Jennifer’s son, Brandon, aged 12, was diagnosed in 1998 with a pilocytic astrocytoma – low grade glimoa. Jennifer has worked since with a number of brain tumour organizations to raise awareness and funds for support and research. To support Mr. Casey’s efforts, the Dempseys flew to Ottawa for a whirlwind agenda of interviews and meetings. At the most important meeting in the Prime Minister’s office, Brandon remained confident and composed as he was introduced and discussed his story with the Federal Health Minister, Tony Clement, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Peter McKay, and Prime Minister Stephen Harper. A series of interviews with national television occurred afterwards followed by observing the debate proceedings live from the comfort of the press gallery.
Bachground on Motion M-235
This Motion stated that "the Minister of Heath should continue to work collaboratively with Statistics Canada, the provincial and territorial cancer registries, and key stakeholders towards the ultimate goal of creating uniform national standards and guidelines for the surveillance of all malignant and benign brain tumours, including data collection, analysis and reporting."
Private Members Motion M-235 follows Prime Minister Stephen Harper's establishment of the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, on November 24, 2006. More information about this announcement can be found here.
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À 2003 Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada 1.800.265.5106
Charitable Registration #BN118816339RR0001 |