TILSON SUPPORTS LYME DISEASE LEGISLATION

OTTAWA, ON – David Tilson, Member of Parliament for Dufferin-Caledon, spoke today in the House of Commons in support of Private Members Bill C-442, Act respecting a National Lyme Disease Strategy, which received its first hour of debate at Second Reading this morning.

“I am pleased to be lending my support to this important Bill, which will help to combat Lyme Disease in Canada,” stated Mr. Tilson. “Over the past number of years, I have been approached by a number of constituents suffering from Lyme Disease so I am encouraged that the government also supports this legislation.”

Dufferin-Caledon residents signed a number of petitions in 2012 and 2013 calling on the government to step up its efforts to combat Lyme Disease, which Mr. Tilson had the honour of presenting in the House of Commons in the spring of 2013.

“The number of reported cases of Lyme disease in Canada has increased nine-fold from 2003 to 2012 to over 300 cases annually,” said Mr. Tilson. “One of our problems is that the actual number of cases of Lyme disease in Canada is estimated to be three times higher than those cases which are actually reported. Even more troubling, based on current trends, the Public Health Agency of Canada estimates that these numbers will continue to rise.”

It is expected that the Bill will come to a vote at Second Reading in mid-April and if successful, will be referred to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health for further study.