A Blog from our CEO
April 26, 2016
I had the opportunity to experience history on April 13, 2016.
I was in Ottawa to witness Senator Cowan’s, Genetic Non-Discrimination Bill – S201, progress through the Senate to the House of Commons.
This has been a long road. All parties have tabled bills to protect genetic test information over the last few years. Senator Cowan first tabled a Genetic Non-Discrimination Bill in 2013. More recently, in December 2014, Senator Cowan re-tabled Bill S201 and it has quickly moved through the Senate to the House, this time.
We still have a bumpy road to go. Where Bill S201 has made it to the House, because it is a Private Member’s Senate Bill it gets put into the pecking order before it can be read. MP Rob Oliphant will champion the bill in the House and is number 31 on list of private members bills, to be heard.
We have never made it this far before. Over the last three years the experts have had their say. Legislating to protect genetic test information has experienced robust discussion and it is all a matter of public record. It is now time to make it happen.
This is so much broader than protecting our genetic test information from the hands of the insurance industry. This is about people living in Canada having the freedom to participate in clinical trials, find employment, adopt children, attend school and prevent, treat, monitor and manage potential disease- without fear of genetic discrimination.
To date the insurance industry, more than other institutions, feel entitled to have access to our genetic test information. They will push back very hard to stop the progression of Bill S201 through the House. It is critical that all people living in Canada contact their MP to pledge support of Bill S201 and legislation to protect genetic test information. Please take the time to connect with your MP, to express support.
Walking through the buildings on Parliament Hill always gives me an incredible appreciation for the history of Canada. I can almost sense the presence of centuries of previous, government representatives walking the marble floored, oak lined halls, contemplating how to make Canada a better country. Our elected officials have an opportunity now to improve the health and well-being of all people in Canada by protecting our genetic information. It is time for Canada to catch up to the other G7 countries and protect genetic test information. It is time our elected representatives did the right thing to make Canada a genetic fair country.
I hope I continue to experience history as Bill S201 moves through the House of Commons.
Bev Heim-Myers
Chief Executive Officer Huntington Society of Canada
Chair of the Canadian Coalition for Genetic Fairness