House of Commons
HANSARD
June 3, 2013
Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP):
Mr. Speaker, desperate Canadians are heading overseas to buy organs on the black market only to see these organs fail when they come back home. They end up in hospital and tragically some have died. As we have debated in the House, unfortunately this is not a new situation.
After seven years in power, why is the government still dragging its feet on the critical need for a national registry for organ transplants?
Hon. Leona Aglukkaq (Minister of Health, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency and Minister for the Arctic Council, CPC):
Mr. Speaker, our government is absolutely playing a leadership role when it comes to establishing a registry. We are working with various organizations, like Hélène Campbell’s initiatives, to establish a registry for individuals who want to make an organ donation. It will be the first of its kind in this country.