Gerald Keddy on the National Lyme Disease Strategy Act (Bill C-442)
Mr. Speaker, it is certainly an honour for me to rise today to participate in this debate on
Bill C-442, an act respecting a
National Lyme Disease Strategy. I would like to begin by commending the member for
Saanich—Gulf Islands for her stewardship of this important bill, and I would like to acknowledge its support by many members in the
House.
The hon. member mentioned in her comments the fact that many of us, myself included, live in areas where the blacklegged tick , or the deer tick, is endemic. In addition, many of us, myself included, have constituents who have contracted
Lyme disease at some
point.
This is an endemic disease. It is a Canada-wide disease. It is a disease that is spreading. For those reasons, we need a national strategy. The support for this bill underscores the need to work together and to address the emerging infectious disease in order to minimize the risk for
Canadians.
Across the country, the number of reported cases of Lyme disease has increased significantly in the last decade. In fact, the actual number of cases in
Canada is estimated to be up to three times higher than reported, because many Canadians may not seek a full diagnosis and, quite frankly, many medical professionals do not know how to diagnose Lyme disease.
To underscore that point, as the hon. member would know, Lyme disease was first reported in
Lyme, Connecticut , in
1975 or
1974. Here we are, 39 years later, with Lyme disease endemic throughout
New England and now it has spread into Canada, following the white-tailed deer of course, and we still do not have a national strategy for Lyme disease. That underscores the need for the important discussion that we are having in the
House of Commons today.
This has led to a growing recognition among governments, health practitioners and stakeholders that work needs to be done to address this emerging infectious disease.
Support for this bill also highlights the need to better leverage efforts at the federal level and across jurisdictions in Lyme disease surveillance and research.
Our government has already established improved surveillance specifically aimed at Lyme disease, and welcomes the sponsor's efforts to bring additional attention to this important issue.
The proposed bill highlights the need for continued action by governments, stakeholders and the public health and medical communities to improve the understanding and awareness of risk factors, prevention and treatment options. The objectives of this bill are laudable, and are in fact in line with the many activities already being undertaken by our government. Canadians should be reassured that the government has not been standing still.
We are already making significant progress under the leadership of the
Public Health Agency of Canada. We are working with provincial and territorial health authorities and other partners in informing Canadians of the health risks from contracting Lyme disease. We also continue to help protect Canadians against Lyme disease through improved surveillance, by conducting research, by providing factual and evidence based information to Canadians and by providing support for laboratory diagnosis. Since
2006, our government has invested $4.6 million through the
Canadian Institutes of Health Research to specifically fund research on Lyme disease, and to disseminate the latest findings and knowledge to the scientific community.
These efforts are a central component of the Public Health Agency of Canada's approach to infectious diseases in
Canada. More specifically, our approach to Lyme disease takes important action to reduce the disease's impact.
We do this by enhancing surveillance, prevention and control, research and diagnosis, and engagement, education and awareness. These three areas are consistent with the key elements of the bill, and our approach is already delivering results. However, as mentioned before, we are also prepared to do more, and in a collaborative fashion, to further address this emerging infectious disease.
http://elizabethmaymp.ca/videos/gerald-keddy-on-the-national-lyme-disease-strategy-act-bill-c-442