March is Endometriosis Awareness Month, and I’m going to present a petition entitled “Improve Endometriosis Care and Education.”

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas one in 10 women, trans and non-binary people who menstruate suffer from endometriosis;

“Whereas the diagnosis of endometriosis can take more than five years;

“Whereas the average wait time to see an endometriosis specialist in Ontario is” anywhere from “seven to” 11 “years;

“Whereas Canada has a shortage of health care providers and specialists trained in endometriosis, forcing many to go untreated or spend thousands of dollars to receive surgeries out of the country;

“Whereas there is societal stigma and discrimination surrounding menstruation and the reproductive health of women, trans and non-binary peoples;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly as follows:

“To make significant investment in Ontario’s health care system to ensure patients with endometriosis have access to publicly funded care in Ontario in a timely manner;

“To increase funding in endometriosis research;

“To improve medical program requirements on knowledge of endometriosis;

“To train more endometriosis specialists.”

I could not sign this with more pride and in more support. I want to thank the members of Toronto–St. Paul’s, especially folks from midtown and also folks from endometriosis events, for all of their leadership and advocacy on this. Thank you, guys. I love you, guys. I’m standing with you. Thank you.

I’m really, really proud today to put forth this petition on behalf of Endometriosis Events. The co-founders, Tami Ellis and Leah Haynes, couldn’t be here today, but they have spearheaded this project across our province.

I also want to welcome the following organizers from Endometriosis Events who are in the members’ gallery with us today: Jenny Rolle, Anne-Marie Seessle, Veronica Brown and Michelle Milheiras.

I also want to welcome Michelle Milheiras’s dad, Jack Milheiras, who is a proud supporter.

This petition is entitled “Endometriosis Awareness and Action.” Again, thank you to Endometriosis Events for leading this charge.

“Whereas the Ministry of Education updated the Ontario physical and health education curriculum in 2019; and

“Whereas the updated curriculum includes sexual health and education expectations; and

“Whereas $7 million has been spent on endometriosis research in Canada in the last 20 years; and

“Whereas there is currently an average wait time of seven to 10 years to see an endometriosis specialist in Ontario” or get a diagnosis;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to:

“—update the current Ontario physical and health education curriculum to include an endometriosis component with specific expectations; and

“—invest significantly more funding in endometriosis research; and

“—improve medical program requirements to reflect endometriosis education in Ontario universities and therefore train more specialists; and

“—ensure people with endometriosis receive timely access to expert surgical and integrative care” through our public health care system.

I couldn’t support this more. We need a provincial strategy for endometriosis care.