MP Gallant: New Hope for MS Sufferers

June 15, 2010

Ottawa, Ontario… “Every day in this country three more people are told they have Multiple Sclerosis,” observed Cheryl Gallant, MP, Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke, during the recent take note debate on this disease in Parliament. “It is estimated that between 55,000 to 75,000 people are now living with MS in Canada. Recently, news of a possible new treatment has captured the world's attention and given hope to Canadians who suffer from MS. Our government understands the importance of health research for the Canadian health care system. That it is why in budget 2010 we increased funding to the Canadian Institute of Health Research by $16 million. This increase alone with other recent investments to CIHR will mean over $1 billion to health research in Canada this year.”

In November of last year an Italian researcher, Dr. Zamboni, developed an experimental treatment for MS based on a possible relationship between MS and impaired venous drainage of the central nervous system.
“This news is a source of great hope for those who suffer from this disease, and is why we must pursue a thorough scientific evaluation to see who might benefit from the treatment and to see if there are long-term implications. Thank-you to volunteers like Donna Lance, Pembroke area, Neil Eady and Judy Mc Ewen, in Renfrew and Arnprior, and  Jackie Cotton in Petawawa, who are members of our local MS support group,” stated MP Gallant.

“We know multiple sclerosis as a progressive neurological disease that slowly robs its victims of their mobility and their ability to speak. It robs them of their youth and robs them of their lives. The answers we are looking for can only come through studies and research done on a larger scale,” concluded Cheryl Gallant, MP.


Hansard, House of Commons June 14, 2010

Mrs. Cheryl Gallant (Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, Conservative): 
   Mr. Chair, it was not just recently, since the breakthrough research from Dr. Zamboni has come forth, but for many years our colleague from Lethbridge has been trudging forth, raising money for MS. As a father, we know there is nothing he would not do to save his daughter and spare her pain.
   I understand that in addition to Ontario, his home province of Alberta does not fund this either. As a father of a daughter who is suffering from this disease, where is he deriving his hope, and how is it that he can overcome the temptation to try a procedure that might end her suffering?

Mr. Rick Casson (Lethbridge, Conservative):
   Mr. Chair, that is a great question, and I appreciate that, but whether there are provincial or federal jurisdictional issues, I think we need to be aware of them and we also need to need to work on them.
        One thing I am proud of is that over the last number of years this government has continued to put money into research for the neurosciences, and it has continued to fund the provinces through the Canada Health Act. We have not cut that funding; we have flagged it for a percentage increase every year. So when the decision is made to move forward, the provinces will have the resources, the time and the money to be able to do that.
   It is a long and complicated process, and a lot of MS sufferers do not have that kind of time. We will be keeping the pressure on to make sure things are done right but that they are done as fast as they possibly can be.