Bill C-211 Act to amend Canada Health Act (ASD)

Here is the Hansard for the Reading of Bill C-211. Parliament has just begun sitting this week, and already we have a Bill read regarding Autism - an Act to amend the Canada Health Act. Special thanks to Laurel Gibbons and Andrew Kavchak of Ottawa (and some others) for their hard work at at achieving this:


39th PARLIAMENT, 1st SESSION
EDITED HANSARD • NUMBER 004
CONTENTS
Thursday, April 6, 2006
ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS
Canada Health Act
Mr. Peter Stoffer (SackvilleEastern Shore, NDP) moved for leave to introduce Bill C-211, An Act to amend the Canada Health Act (Autism Spectrum Disorder).
He said: Mr. Speaker, there are 346,000 children in this country that have autism spectrum disorder. Unfortunately, the federal government does not play a role in their lives at all. We are asking the federal government to assist the provinces and territories with financial funding through the health care system to provide the treatment that these families can then give to their children.
It is unacceptable that 346,000 children and their families are left out of the Canada Health Act all together. This bill would include those beautiful children so that they would have a chance at a quality of life that we all take for granted.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Canadian Autism Day Act
Mr. Peter Stoffer (SackvilleEastern Shore, NDP) moved for leave to introduce Bill C-212, An Act respecting a Canadian Autism Day.
He said: Mr. Speaker, quite simply, on April 23 of this year and every other year we would like to have that day recognized as national autism day, so that people such as Laurel Gibbons of Ottawa and Roxanne Black of British Columbia and their children could be recognized on what these children and their families go through on a day to day basis.
By having a national day in honour of this, we could then possibly turn our attention to further research and further assistance, so we can find a cure for this neurological disorder. By highlighting this day, we also highlight the abilities that these beautiful children have and what they can provide to our country as well.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

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The text of Bill C-211 is available in English and French from the Parliament of Canada website (http://www.parl.gc.ca/). Go to "Bill", and then "House of Commons" and "Private Members' Bills". Then scroll down to Bill C-211.

First Session, Thirty-ninth Parliament,
55 Elizabeth II, 2006
HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA

BILL C-211

An Act to amend the Canada Health Act (Autism Spectrum Disorder)

first reading, April 6, 2006

Mr. Stoffer

SUMMARY

The purpose of this enactment is to ensure that the cost of Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) and Intensive Behavioural Intervention (IBI) for autistic persons is covered by the health care insurance plan of every province.


BILL C-211

An Act to amend the Canada Health Act (Autism Spectrum Disorder)

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:

Section 2 of the Canada Health Act is renumbered as subsection 2(1) and is amended by adding the following:
(2) For the purposes of this Act, services that are medically necessary or required under this Act include Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) and Intensive Behavioural Intervention (IBI) for persons suffering from Autism Spectrum Disorder.