SENATORS’ STATEMENTS — National Blood Donor Week

Honourable senators, I rise today to discuss something that’s near and dear to my heart: This week marks National Blood Donor Week across Canada. I want to highlight the importance of donating blood. There are three core components of a blood donation. There are red blood cells, plasma and platelets. Most of you are familiar with red blood cells, but may be less familiar with plasma and platelets.

Plasma goes to patients who require a transfusion, and it is also used in the manufacturing of medicines needed by those with conditions such as bleeding disorders, severe burns and immunodeficiency.

Platelets are a component of the blood that helps with clotting. In a healthy person, new platelets are continuously being produced and old platelets are removed within the body. Those who have low platelets or platelets that don’t function properly — for example, someone undergoing chemotherapy — need transfusions as part of their treatment.

Our national blood authority is Canadian Blood Services, which was established in 1998 and is an independent, not-for-profit charitable organization responsible for ensuring that patients across our country have safe and reliable access to the high-quality blood, plasma, stem cells and organs and tissues that they need.

Canadian Blood Services provides blood and blood products for transfusion, manages a formulary of plasma protein and related products used in a wide array of medical conditions, and also manages stem cell registry services and cord blood banking.

As June is also Pride Month, I want to draw attention to the Canadian Blood Services recent apology to the 2SLGBTQI+ communities for a former policy which prevented all sexually active men who have sex with men, and some trans people, from donating blood and plasma.

In 2022, evidence was submitted to Health Canada to clearly demonstrate a change in policy was both safe and necessary, and a change in criteria was implemented. All donors are now asked the same questions about sexual behaviour regardless of sexual orientation or gender.

I would like to congratulate Canadian Blood Services on their efforts to create a more inclusive donation policy, and for acknowledging the role they played in discriminating against queer communities. This is an important step forward in righting the wrongs of a harmful policy and I welcome it, as I’m sure many other Canadians do.

Colleagues, there is always a need for more donors. I encourage you to donate if you are able, and remember, as Canadian Blood Services will tell you frequently, “It’s in you to give.” Thank you. Meegwetch.