OTTAWA  (February 21, 2012) –  Leon Benoit, MP for Vegreville- Wainwright, concluded the second hour of debate on his Motion, M-274, last week in the House of Commons. The Motion is scheduled to be voted on in the coming weeks.

“I am pleased with the support many of my colleagues have shown for this Motion,” said Benoit. “I have had many meetings with constituents, individuals from across the country, and various others throughout this process, including the Health Minister and representatives from the Canadian Institute of Health Research, doctors involved in MS, and representatives of the MS Society. I have certainly learned a lot about this terrible disease and about this CCSVI procedure which really does offer hope to MS patients.”

Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency (CCSVI) is a restriction of blood flow drainage from the brain and spinal cord. The CCSVI Liberation Therapy treatment is a surgery to improve blood flow in certain veins which carry blood from the brain and upper spinal column.

“It is so important that our Government continues to work at an accelerated rate on this issue,” Benoit stated. “It is imperative that the clinical trials are done as efficiently as possible so that those who suffer from MS are able to access the Liberation Therapy here in Canada.”

Benoit went on to explain how unfortunate it is that the CCSVI treatment has been attached only to MS because the process is used to treat other conditions as well.
“I believe having the procedure attached solely to MS has actually slowed down the whole process. It is unfortunate that it wasn’t realized before, though maybe things can still be sped up if that connection is removed.”

While clinical trials are being held for the CCSVI treatment, Benoit’s Motion is meant to ensure that patients suffering with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and their families and caregivers have the access to information they need to make more informed decisions on the management of their condition. M-274 would establish an information portal that would allow MS sufferers who are considering undergoing liberation therapy treatment outside of Canada to gain anecdotal information from patients who have already had this procedure done.

“I encourage all patients with MS to take part in the studies on Liberation Therapy treatment such as the British Columbia CCSVI registry and The Alberta Multiple Sclerosis Initiative (TAMSI),” stated Benoit. “If more patients participate in these programs, it may provide better treatment for patients with MS in the future.”

The vote for M-274 will be on Wednesday February 29, 2012, at around 3:30pm MST. Those wishing to watch the vote can view it online by going to www.cpac.ca.