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House Hansard - 238

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
October 24, 2023 10:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 238 - Oct/24/23
Mr. Brendan Hanley (Yukon, Lib.)
  • Oct/24/23 2:00:13 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, only a few decades ago, polio was a common and much-feared infectious disease. Now we are tantalizingly close to eradicating polio through vaccination. One outstanding polio champion is Rotary International, a key partner in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, which to date has vaccinated 2.5 billion children worldwide. Ramesh Ferris is a Rotarian hero in my riding of the Yukon. A polio survivor, Ramesh hand-cycled across the country in 2008 in a fundraising and awareness-raising Cycle to Walk campaign. Today, Ramesh remains at the heart of Rotary's tireless eradication campaign. While we celebrate 99.9% success in ridding the world of polio, the last 0.1% is by far the toughest. Polio remains endemic in two countries, while new outbreaks in different regions of the world continue to challenge us. Many of these areas are wracked with conflict and instability, reminding us that peace must pave the way to good health. As we mark World Polio Day, let us renew our commitment to make polio a disease of history.
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Context: House Hansard - 238 - Oct/24/23
Mr. John Aldag (Cloverdale—Langley City, Lib.)
  • Oct/24/23 2:08:11 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, today I stand to recognize World Polio Day and the efforts of Rotary International. Over 700 Rotary clubs across Canada, including my own club in Langley, carry the vision of a polio-free world and continue to work tirelessly toward this goal. Since 2006, the federal government has contributed over $200 million to support polio eradication efforts. Unfortunately, the pandemic has caused millions of children to miss their polio vaccinations, resulting in outbreaks threatening this tremendous program. Sustained action is critical to protecting global health. If we stop now, we risk the paralysis of 200,000 children worldwide each year. I ask members to please join me today in marking World Polio Day by thanking all who contribute to eradicating polio in our local communities and internationally. Our work is not yet complete. We must remain steadfast in our support to end this terrible disease once and for all.
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