SENATORS’ STATEMENTS — ALS Awareness Month
June 2, 2026
Honourable senators, June is ALS Awareness Month. I rise to support the 4,000 Canadians navigating the profound challenges of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS.
ALS is a relentless progressive disease that attacks the motor neurons controlling voluntary muscle movement. With no cure, its cruelty lies in leaving the mind intact while the body fails. It is a theft of independence that no Canadian should endure.
The statistics are sobering. Each year, 1,000 Canadians receive this life-altering diagnosis while, tragically, another 1,000 lose their lives to this devastating illness.
An ALS diagnosis does not just affect the individual; it fundamentally reshapes the lives of entire families, caregivers and communities.
I think today specifically of my friend Chris May. Until recently, Chris was an incredibly active, vibrant individual. Since his diagnosis, he has faced the rapid loss of his mobility, yet his response has been nothing short of inspiring. Despite the monumental challenges he faces, Chris chooses to dedicate his extensive background in advocacy to the fight for an end to ALS.
Investing in ALS research is an investment in innovation, health outcomes and hope. Canada has a strong foundation of researchers and clinicians, but we must continue our leadership role. By fostering cross-sector collaboration, we can accelerate discovery and expand access to clinical trials for patients nationwide. An initiative like the Canadian Collaboration to Cure ALS is an excellent example of how this type of integrated teamwork can move the needle forward.
When the federal government, the scientific community, clinicians and the patient community work in tandem, we create a momentum that is impossible to ignore. My hope and, indeed, the hope of people like Chris is that we will continue to prioritize these efforts until we achieve a world free of ALS.
Thank you. Shukran. Meegwetch.
