Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to use the occasion today to speak on something that is very important to many of us and it actually touches many of our lives.
The Canadian Cancer Society has just released their statistics report for 2014. It provides an estimate of cancer rates for Canada for the current year and highlights cancer trends.
This report is prepared annually through the partnership of the Canadian Cancer Society, the Public Health Agency of Canada, Statistics Canada, and they also have partners in provincial and territorial cancer registries.
This year’s report includes a special chapter on skin cancer with the emphasis on melanoma, which is the deadliest form of skin cancer and a very common form of skin cancer among young Canadians. Melanoma usually appears on the skin, but can be found in the eyes or in the lining of the nose, mouth or even in a person’s private parts.
Like these types of skin cancers, it’s about 90 percent preventable. Melanoma rates are on the rise in Canada, which highlights the need for better efforts to ensure we work to prevent these things. Tanning beds and sunlamps give off ultraviolet rays, which we all know are many times stronger than the natural light. The Canadian Cancer Society, in tandem with the World Health Organization, recommends that no one under the age of 18 use these types of tanning equipment.
On many occasions I have raised this particular issue and even in late 2013 – as the Minister scrambles to catch up on this issue in his briefing notes. Frankly, the Department of Health did act, so he doesn’t have worry. He doesn’t have questions today.
The fact is the Department of Health did listen to this issue that I’ve been raising and I’m very thankful for that. Last year the Government of Canada introduced legislation under the Public Health Act prohibiting youth from using tanning beds, another good step in ensuring that we’re fighting the battle against melanoma rates and certainly taking care of our youth where it matters.
I, as many people know, have been a long-time champion of this particular problem, but I have to thank the Canadian Cancer Society, the Alberta-NWT Division not only for their inspiration and insight but certainly their stewardship on what they provide Canadians and Northerners for advice. Their goal is to help people by bringing awareness to this problem, and they are doing a great job of it. They believe if we could focus on melanoma and educate the public about the risk of skin cancer and the prevention steps, we can do much better.
We can’t do it alone, but we need everyone to join in on this fight, become more aware and take better care of ourselves. If I may finally say, Mr. Speaker, as we roll into the summer, we all know what that means. Northerners want to be out more on the land or the beach, whatever the case may be. So cover up, take care of yourselves, especially your loved ones. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. McLeod.
