Canada "Bill C-442: Federal Framework for Lyme Disease" Passes Third Reading in House of C

*Formerly referred to "National Lyme Disease Strategy Act"

Good news today for Canadians...

Bill C-442 is a Parliament of Canada private members bill that has been lead by federal Minister Elizabeth May (Member for Saanich-Gulf Islands). It was presented for third reading today in the House of Commons and it PASSED!!!

The bill has all-party support, and now goes to the Senate for readings, but this should be a rubber stamp. Within one year, the Minister of Health, Rona Ambrose must establish a committee comprised of provincial/territorial health ministers, physicians and actual LD sufferers to detail a strategy, including funding. This will mean that suspected Lyme Disease sufferers in Canada will soon be afforded proper testing (admitted during debate as presently unacceptable), diagnosis and treatment covered by provincial/territorial health plans. For the Canadian public in general, awareness campaigns will be a part of the strategy including education and notices within all federal/provincial parks.

Still a little ways to go, but today's news is a BIG deal. Yippee!!!!!

Post Edited (KeyLymePie) : 6/11/2014 5:06:29 PM (GMT-6)

Because the bill has been passed...let's hope that it immediately draws attention/awareness to the fact that there are people suffering from misdiagnosed/poorly treated Lyme disease.

It's a start! Let's hope it is the beginning of help for Canadian Lyme sufferers!

Wow, this is such good news....hopefully there will be a lot in the media discussing this bill.

Hopefully the new facility in Toronto hospital is a good one.

There was a women's clinic that opened in Vancouver (a couple years ago?? not sure when) for chronic pain...was supposed to be good place to get Lyme treatment. But, it the ended up being no better than what we already get here in Canada....close to nothing...few weeks antibiotics.
Women were outraged...such hype...and it didn't deliver.
Maybe with the passing of this bill...that clinic will offer better diagnosis and treatment. We need one here in the West too!!

Harry - I have gone to Dr. E.C. (if you mean the LLND in Richmond?) website. What's the interview you're talking about?

Have you heard of the retired Dr. M.? from hope? I emailed him and asked him and he said Dr. C. from Richmond is knowledgeable and so is the LLND I am seeing on Saturday in Victoria. I trust him. He is a pioneer for Lyme Disease treatment..and has basically dedicated himself still to educate docs who want to gain knowledge of diagnosing and treating.
I am keeping my fingers crossed that the LLND I see will do a clinical diagnosis..and get me started on abx. I have a feeling she's going to wait for the Igenex test results and just have me do herbals...but I've been doing herbals for 3 weeks now and really want to hit it hard with abx...and maybe I will have a response.

Let me know how its goes for now I'm doing herbal shope thy gono work sometimes I'm confused about abx ... Wether should I go for abx ... So don't know yet ... If I do then I have to come BC to see Dr EC

Toronto their is one naturopath but she can't prescribe abx cuz in Ontario nd can't prescribe abx like in BC

Yup ... Cuz my naturopath told me thy can work together after your initial appointment

Yup did ignenx came positive for past exposure I believe igg and sick I'm not sick for now ... BT lets c whr this gs goes

Hooray I'm so happy Canada is doing this! Did everyone see the David Suzuki documentary for Lyme? I think it was excellent, a must see and I think it really helped get Lyme recognized in Canada.

The government already knows Lyme is no joke of a disease and that it's not exactly easy to get rid of.

Global warming (climate change) + an ancient bacteria + ticks

I think that explains the Lyme epidemic.

I haven't seen it, but just looked it up. I'll watch it tomorrow. Here's the link...
www.cbc.ca/natureofthings/episodes/ticked-off-the-mystery-of-lyme-disease

This is fantastic news re Bill C-442!! Thank goodness something is beginning to happen!!

Harry03 - The hospital in Toronto you mentioned is the Humber River Hospital.This centre funded by Magnotta’s foundation will house Canada’s first bio-repository, or human tissue bank, to test people who fit the Lyme profile so they can get immediate help.

This state-of-the-art, acute care hospital opens in Fall 2015 in North Toronto at Keele and 401. It will include world-class facility for researching Lyme disease and other vector-borne illnesses that will lead to better diagnostics and treatment for Canadians here in our own country.

Here are 2 great links that talk about LD and the new facility and how it came into being.

http://www.macleans.ca/society/health/the-truth-about-lyme-disease/

http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/1193653/g-magnotta-foundation-for-vector-borne-diseases-becomes-official-canadian-registered-charity

This hospital must have been long in the planning in anticipation of the passing of Bill C-442. This is great!