43rd PARLIAMENT, 2nd SESSION House of Commons Debates Official Report (Hansard) Volume 150 No. 093 Monday, May 3, 2021 Speaker: The Honourable Anthony Rota CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) 6495 HOUSE OF COMMONS Monday, May 3, 2021 The House met at 11 a.m. This is still recognized as one of the greatest achievements of medicine in the 20th century and made them the first Canadians to win a Nobel Prize. It has been inspiring to see how the world has recognized this monumental achievement. Prayer On April 14, the University of Toronto hosted 100 years of in‐ PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS sulin symposium, which drew more than 6,000 attendees from around the world. This was also the occasion where Canada Post ● (1100) chose to unveil a new stamp that features a quote from Banting's [English] unpublished journal, in his own handwriting, as well as the original insulin bottle with a red cap. I was proud to advocate for the cre‐ NATIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR DIABETES ACT ation of a stamp like this, as it serves both as a celebration of the The House proceeded to the consideration of Bill C-237, An Act achievement and as a reminder that the search for a cure continues. to establish a national framework for diabetes, as reported (with amendment) from the committee. On the same day, the Minister of Health opened the World The Speaker: There being no motions at report stage, the House Health Organization's summit to launch a Global Diabetes Com‐ will now proceed, without debate, to the putting of the question on pact, which seeks to improve the diagnosis rate and care for people the motion to concur in the bill at report stage. living with diabetes. She highlighted this bill and said: Ms. Sonia Sidhu (Brampton South, Lib.) moved that the bill be concurred in. Canada has a proud history of diabetes research and innovation. From the dis‐ The Speaker: If a member of a recognized party present in the covery of insulin in 1921 to one hundred years later, we continue working to sup‐ House wishes to request a recorded division or that the motion be port people living with diabetes. But we cannot take on diabetes alone. We must adopted on division, I would invite them to rise and indicate it to each share knowledge and foster international collaboration to help people with dia‐ betes live longer, healthier lives — in Canada and around the world. the chair. Ms. Anita Vandenbeld: Mr. Speaker, I request that the motion be agreed to on division. The director general of the WHO said: The Speaker: I declare the motion carried on division. When shall the bill be read a third time? By leave, now? The number of people with diabetes has quadrupled in the last 40 years. It is the only major noncommunicable disease for which the risk of dying early is going up, Some hon. members: Agreed. rather than down. ...The Global Diabetes Compact will help to catalyze political commitment for action to increase the accessibility and affordability of life-saving Ms. Sonia Sidhu moved that the bill be read the third time and medicines for diabetes and also for its prevention and diagnosis. passed. She said: Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to speak on my private This is why now is the time for all levels of government in member's bill, Bill C-237, an act to establish a national framework Canada to work with stakeholders and create our own strategy to for diabetes in Canada. fight and ultimately end this disease, one that coordinates funding I want to begin by thanking the member for Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, for awareness, prevention, education, data collection, treatment and who generously traded his slot so we could begin third reading on research that will improve health outcomes for all Canadians and this bill today. I would also like to thank all my colleagues in the one day lead to a cure. Standing Committee on Health who unanimously supported this bill in March. Diabetes rates are three times to four times higher among first As members of this House know, 2021 is the year we are cele‐ nations than among the general Canadian population. Furthermore, brating the 100th anniversary of the discovery of insulin by Sir indigenous individuals are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at a Frederick Banting and his colleagues at the University of Toronto. younger age than other individuals. 6496 COMMONS DEBATES May 3, 2021 Private Members' Business In my own community of Brampton, every sixth resident has dia‐ take this work into consideration when crafting an official frame‐ betes or prediabetes. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the work, as well as the other testimony and recommendations found in challenges faced by people living with diabetes, who are at an in‐ our HESA report. She was in the committee when we did the creased risk of developing severe symptoms and dying from this in‐ HESA report. It was a great report. fectious disease. Furthermore, the economic insecurity, lack of physical activity and mental health struggles associated with the pandemic all have a negative impact on those living with diabetes. [Translation] A national framework for diabetes would provide a common di‐ rection for all stakeholders to address diabetes and other chronic diseases with the same common risk factors. It would enhance co‐ Ms. Louise Chabot (Thérèse-De Blainville, BQ): Madam ordinated efforts across federal, provincial and territorial jurisdic‐ Speaker, we have to applaud our colleague's hard work and dedica‐ tions and provide a mechanism for tracking and reporting on tion with respect to this important disease. progress. The government needs to conduct its own consultation and stake‐ holder engagement. However, one proposed strategy that could be Each of our provinces has an association, and Diabetes Québec is taken into consideration for the national framework, and which has doing great work in Quebec. been considered by the health committee, is diabetes 360°. This was developed in collaboration with more than 120 stakeholders and has strong support not only from the entire diabetes community What does my colleague think of the purpose and scope of this but also from other key health stakeholders. national strategy given that this is a provincial responsibility? ● (1105) I would like to thank all the individuals and organizations that have supported this bill and helped it come together. That support [English] means a lot to me and I know it will make a difference in the lives of 11 million Canadians living with diabetes or prediabetes. Ms. Sonia Sidhu: Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the Di‐ Back in the spring of 2019, I was proud to bring forward the abetes Québec association. While I recognize my colleague's inter‐ unanimously supported motion to declare November as Diabetes est in creating health transfers to the provinces, during the pandem‐ Awareness Month in Canada, but now it is time for more than ic the federal government has been there to support that. This in‐ awareness. It is time for action. Canada, 100 years ago, made the cludes over $19 billion in the safe restart agreement. It was an‐ biggest leap in the treatment of diabetes. nounced that an additional $4 billion would be given to the provinces through the Canada health transfer and another $1 billion Let us pass Bill C-237 today and send it to the Senate. I am very to help with the vaccine rollout. We have stepped up to help all hopeful that passing this bill will help millions of Canadians who provinces, including Quebec. We will work Diabetes Québec and are fighting this disease. Canada gave insulin to the world. Why all provinces. As I said in my bill, we will work with the Diabetes can we not lead the way? Québec association, provinces and territories— Ms. Marilyn Gladu (Sarnia—Lambton, CPC): Madam Speak‐ er, I would like to thank the member for Brampton South for all of her advocacy on diabetes all these years and for a great speech to‐ The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès): day. The hon. member for North Island—Powell River. Beyond the national framework that is definitely needed, there are other things the government could do. The member mentioned a 360° Canada plan. Diabetes Canada has been asking for $150 mil‐ Ms. Rachel Blaney (North Island—Powell River, NDP): lion of funding from the federal government for a number of years Madam Speaker, I want to thank the member for bringing forward and it has not been funded. Also, the pharmacare the Liberals have this private member's bill on this really important issue. Not too been talking about has not been brought forward and there are long ago, before COVID, I had two young people come and speak many people who cannot afford to buy their diabetes medications. to me about juvenile diabetes. One of the biggest challenges was that in one province, all of the things they required were free and Can the member say whether the Liberal government will sup‐ part of the program, but in another province they were not. We had port those two things? outcomes of health that were completely different simply because ● (1110) of the province people were born in. Ms. Sonia Sidhu: Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the member, who I serve with on the health committee, for her leader‐ ship. The government, of course, needs to conduct its own consul‐ Does the member agree that diabetes-related medications, sup‐ tation and engage stakeholders. Diabetes Canada has done great plies and equipment should be included as part of a universal, com‐ work in putting together its 360° strategy.