SENATORS’ STATEMENTS — National Strategic Framework for Chronic Kidney Disease

Honourable senators, you know how much I love numbers; however, the following number is not one I like. Kidney disease affects 1 in 10 Canadians. That’s 10% of our population. Yet, it remains too often undiagnosed until it reaches its most serious stages.

As the eleventh leading cause of death in Canada and one of the costliest chronic conditions facing our health care system, it demands urgent and coordinated national attention.

As a long-time supporter of the Kidney Foundation of Canada, I rise today to highlight the foundation’s most recent and powerful advocacy initiative: the introduction of its National Strategic Framework for Chronic Kidney Disease.

Launched just over a month ago, this comprehensive roadmap sets out a clear vision to transform kidney care in Canada from a system that is reactive and fragmented to one that is proactive and grounded in prevention, early detection and innovation.

The foundation’s work reflects decades of unwavering commitment to patients, caregivers and researchers across this country. Their leadership in advancing awareness, funding critical research and advocating for better access to care has made a profound difference in the lives of millions of Canadians. We owe them our sincere recognition and gratitude, and I extend my thanks to our friends from the foundation who are in the gallery today. Thank you.

The framework identifies key priorities that deserve our attention: strengthening prevention and early intervention, ensuring equitable access to timely and competent care and advancing research and data to drive better outcomes. These are practical and achievable goals that can significantly improve health outcomes while reducing long-term costs to our system.

But, colleagues, a number I really like is $141.6 million. That’s the amount of money that the foundation has invested in its research program since 1964.

In 2024 alone, thanks to the generous support of its donors, the foundation invested nearly $4 million in research and innovation, leveraged $12.5 million from five funding partners and awarded over 100 research grants, which impacted the work of nearly 500 researchers.

Honourable senators, in that spirit, I invite you to join me in urging the government to carefully consider the foundation’s proposal for a national framework on chronic kidney disease and to work in collaboration with stakeholders to advance its implementation.

Canadians living with or at risk of kidney disease deserve nothing less than a coordinated, forward-looking approach to their care. Now is the time to move from awareness to action. Thank you.