Sunday June 23, 2024 | LANGFORD, BC [Updated June 30, 2024]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Brain injury is an increasingly important challenge within health-care in Canada.
Local MP Alistair MacGregor (Cowichan-Malahat-Langford) was clearly pleased at the unanimous approval of his Private Members Bill C-277 (Second Reading) on June 12 in the House of Commons (324 in favour and zero against).
There will be far-reaching impacts for those who have brain injury, as well as their families and workers and programs in the health-care system.
Private Member’s Bill C-277 is An Act to establish a national strategy on brain injuries.
“This work came about because of the passion and lived experience of several of my constituents, and I am so proud and grateful for their work,” said MacGregor in a message to constituents this past week.
“I especially want to thank Janelle Breese Biagioni from the CGB Centre for Traumatic Life Losses, Chris Rafuse from the Cowichan Brain Injury Society, and local advocate and brain injury survivor Kyle Mockford, among many others,” said MacGregor.
“Working together with community groups across Canada, Bill C-277 has become a national campaign for greater awareness, prevention, and treatment of brain injuries. My sincere thanks to all for your continued support of this important initiative,” said MacGregor this week.
Preventive, training & facts:
MacGregor’s Private Member’s Bill C-277, the National Strategy on Brain Injuries Act, would implement a national strategy on TBI by:
- promoting the implementation of preventive measures to reduce risk;
- identifying the training, education and guidance needs of health care professionals;
- promoting research and improve data collection;
- creating national guidelines on the prevention, diagnosis, and management of brain injuries;
- encouraging the use of consulting psychologists to create a national support system;
- developing and maintain a government website to provide current facts, research, and best practices.
Wide impact:
Complications from traumatic brain injuries range from minor cognitive delays to debilitating and life threatening symptoms such as seizures and coma. Issues can follow the victim for several years after the injury.
“This is going to make a difference in the lives of so many,” said MacGregor in 2022 when he first introduced the bill.
MPs back in communities for the summer:
The House of Commons has now wrapped up their most recent sitting (which ran January 29 to June 19, 2024).
MPs will return to the House of Commons on September 16, 2024.
===== RELATED:
- Bill C-277 gives brain injury a higher profile (May 1, 2024)
- Alistair MacGregor reintroduces national strategy brain injury bill (June 2, 2022)
- Video – MP MacGregor Introduces Bill C-277 in House of Commons (2022)
- Bill C-277 – full text (2022)
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