“Canada is the birthplace of insulin, why can’t it lead the world in defeating Diabetes?” – MP Sonia Sidhu in the House of Commons
Brampton South MP Sonia Sidhu introduces legislation, Bill C-237 An Act to Establish a National Framework for Diabetes
February 27, 2020 – OTTAWA – Sonia Sidhu, Member of Parliament for Brampton South introduced Private Member’s Business, Bill C-237- An Act to Establish a National Framework for Diabetes in the House of Commons.
This bill, through consultation with provincial and territorial governments, Indigenous groups and other stakeholders, will develop a national framework designed to support improved access to diabetes prevention and treatment to ensure better health outcomes for Canadians.
She reiterated the need of taking stronger action towards improving the lives of nearly one-third of Canadians suffering from diabetes or pre-diabetes. Ms. Sidhu encouraged all the members in the House to ” join in ” to support the same.
MP Sonia Sidhu has spent a significant portion of her career advocating for those suffering from diabetes in her 18 years of work in healthcare, especially as a diabetes educator. That’s how, she has seen firsthand how devastating this disease can be, and how preventable these impacts are with proper education.
In April 2019, Sonia stood in the House of Commons alongside MP Bill Casey to table the Health Committee report entitled A Diabetes Strategy for Canada. Her work on the ground helps to direct the work she now pursues in her role as a Parliamentarian, including as a Member on the Standing Committee on Health and as the Chair of the All-Party Diabetes Caucus.
QUOTES:
“11 million Canadians have diabetes or pre-diabetes. Brampton has the highest rate of diabetes. In the birthplace of insulin, how can we not take stronger action toward improving the lives of nearly one-third of Canadians?
Through my bill, I am confident that one day soon we will find a way to defeat diabetes.
I am proud of the work that our Government has done so far on diabetes, but more needs to be done and Bill C-237 is another big step in the right direction” – MP Sonia Sidhu
“Diabetes Canada congratulates MP Sidhu on her proposed Bill C-237. Canada is greatly in need of a national framework to enhance awareness of diabetes and better manage the disease or the risk of someone developing it or its complications. We thank MP Sidhu for continuing to champion the needs of Canadians with diabetes and look forward to the rapid adoption of this important bill. – Russell Williams, Interim President and CEO, Diabetes Canada
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QUICK FACTS:
– Since 2015 our Government has invested $229 million towards important diabetes research, with over $48 million funded in 2018-2019 alone.
– One in three (11 million) Canadians have diabetes or pre-diabetes
– Approximately 1.5 million Canadian have undiagnosed type 2 diabetes; undiagnosed diabetes can lead to a plethora of related serious health complications
– The daily cost to the healthcare system is nearly $75 Million to treat Canadians with diabetes, much of which is in emergent care and hospital visits and treating complications related to diabetes.
LINKS:
– Bill C-237 LegisInfo
– Health Canada: Are You at Risk for Diabetes?
– Health Canada: Diabetes Facts
– Public Health Association of Canada: Diabetes in Canada (PDF)