It gives me great pleasure to introduce Cathy Orlando, who is a member of the Citizens’ Climate Lobby, and here at Queen’s Park today. Welcome to your House, Cathy.
I would like thank Barb MacFarlane for this petition.
“Blood and Plasma Donations Not for Sale...:
“Whereas in the 1980s, 30,000 Canadians were infected by HIV or hepatitis and 8,000 died after receiving tainted blood transfusions; and
“Whereas the resulting royal commission of inquiry led by Justice Horace Krever made recommendations to protect the integrity of blood-product collection; and
“Whereas recommendation 2(b) of the Krever inquiry states donors of blood and plasma should not be paid for their donations; and
“Whereas British Columbia and Quebec have forbidden deals between Canadian Blood Services and the for-profit plasma industry to outsource collection and pay donors;
“Whereas Ontario has legislation that forbids the private sale of blood and plasma under the Voluntary Blood Donations Act;”
They “petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows:
“To immediately act to forbid Grifols pharmaceutical from setting up for-profit clinics and paying donors to sell their plasma....”
I fully support this petition, will affix my name to it and ask page Paras to bring it to the Clerk.