“THERE IS NO REASON WHY THE COUNTRY THAT GAVE INSULIN TO THE WORLD CANNOT LEAD THE FIGHT AGAINST DIABETES”
-MP SONIA SIDHU
Right now there are approximately 11 million Canadians suffering from Diabetes or Prediabetes, and a new diagnosis is made every 3 minutes. Diabetes is a leading cause of stroke, heart attack, kidney failure, blindness, and lower limb amputation; it places a huge burden on Canada’s healthcare system and is estimated to cost $15.9 billion per year in direct and indirect costs by 2020.
MP Sonia Sidhu has been a parliamentary leader in the fight against diabetes since her election in 2015. MP Sidhu is the Chair of the All Party Diabetes Caucus and a key member of the Standing Committee on Health who have recently begun a study on Diabetes Strategies in Canada and Abroad.
$6 million investment for two Canadian research teams on type 1 diabetes announced by MP Sonia Sidhu
30 November, 2020 - To mark the end of Diabetes Awareness Month, Sonia Sidhu, the Member of Parliament for Brampton South, on behalf of the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Health, announced an investment of $6 million through the CIHR-JDRF Partnership to Defeat Diabetes for two Canadian research teams to accelerate the development of stem cell-based therapies for the treatment of T1D.
“Diabetes continues to be a major health concern for many Canadians. We know that diabetes is a leading cause of stroke, heart attack, kidney failure, and blindness; it places a huge burden on Canada’s health care system, and that is why we must continue to fund research and make strides towards overcoming this disease. I was honoured to announce this investment on behalf of Canada’s Minister of Health, the Honourable Patty Hajdu and I would like to thank our partners at JDRF Canada for their contributions to this great initiative.” — Sonia Sidhu, Member of Parliament for Brampton South
MP Sonia Sidhu Private Members’ Bill for a National Diabetes Framework has its second reading
Sonia Sidhu, the Member of Parliament for Brampton South has taken her Private Members’ Bill another step forward on behalf of the 11 million Canadians living with diabetes or prediabetes.
On Friday, November 27th, 2020 MP Sonia Sidhu’s Bill C-237, An Act to establish a national framework for diabetes was read for a second time and debated in the House of Commons.
The bill sets out to develop a national framework designed to support improved access for Canadians to diabetes prevention and treatment.
It builds on MP Sonia Sidhu’s work to proclaim November as Diabetes Awareness Month in Canada through Motion 173 in the 42nd Parliament.
MP Sidhu moved Motion M-118 in the House of Commons on February 6, 2017 which called on the Standing Committee on Health to study diabetes and prediabetes, the motion later received unanimous consent in the Standing Committee on Health and the committee’s study began on May 23rd, 2018.
On May 24th, 2018 MP Sidhu presented Bill C-403: The Diabetes Awareness Month Act, to her fellow parliamentarians in the House of Commons. November is recognized as diabetes awareness month by diabetes advocacy organizations such as JDRF and Diabetes Canada as well as the International Diabetes Federation and the Centre for Disease Control. November 14 is recognized by the international community as World Diabetes Day, falling within diabetes awareness month.
On May 3, 2018 MP Sonia Sidhu, as the Chair of the All-Party Diabetes Caucus on behalf on the Minister of Health, announced $7.7 million of funding towards type 1 diabetes research in partnership with JDRF. The funding will go toward the research efforts of 3 Canadian scientists: Dr. Remi Rabasa-Lhoret from L’Institut de recherches cliniques du Montreal, Dr. Farid Mahmud from the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, and Dr. Gillian Booth from St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto.
As the Chair of the All-Party #Diabetes Caucus Sonia had heard from constituents, Canadians, and stakeholders about their concerns with the Disability Tax Credit for Type-1 diabetics. She had been working hard with the Minister of Revenue, the Hon. Diane Lebouthillier, to share these concerns with her.
On November 23, 2017 Sonia, rose in the Standing Committee on Finance to ask what was being done to address those concerns. The Minister assured Sonia that Canadians who are entitled to this credit, will receive this credit.
A few weeks after this dialogue, Minister Lebouthillier announced the membership of the re-instated Disability Advisory Committee (DAC). This committee was dissolved under the previous Conservative government in 2006. The DAC will provide the Canada Revenue Agency with a better understanding of stakeholder perspectives and priorities on the administration of measures for Canadians with disabilities. Additionally, the CRA undertook a proactive review of all applications that have been denied. Reassessing these applications helped to ensure that Canadians with disabilities continued to receive the tax credits for which they are eligible.
On November 8th, 2017 MP Sonia Sidhu, rose in the House of Commons to challenge her fellow MP’s to a step contest. MP Sidhu believes that Members of Parliament should step up and show leadership on physical activity and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
