Speech – 2016.10.26 – Bill C-316 – Organ Donation
Mr. Len Webber (Calgary Confederation, CPC): Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a bill that would assist the provinces in growing and maintaining their organ donor registries. Four thousand six hundred Canadians are currently awaiting a transplant, and we can help.
My bill would ask Canadians, on their annual tax return, if they consent to having their provincial or territorial government inform of their desire to be added to their organ donor registry. The bill would be a sensible, cost-effective way of using an existing and legally binding document to annually update organ donor registries throughout the country. It would respect provincial jurisdictions and utilize existing privacy and information-sharing agreements. It would have the potential to save many lives.
I want to thank the hon. member for Calgary Shepard for seconding my bill. I look forward to having support across all parties.