OTTAWA – A petition submitted to the House of Commons by MP Elizabeth May, leader of the Green Party, has already surpassed 23,000 signatures. It calls for the recognition of two debilitating diseases: Endometriosis and Adenomyosis.
As stated in the petition, these are “chronic, painful, and often disabling diseases that can severely impact a person’s ability to work, study, and perform daily activities.”
Despite their debilitating nature, these conditions “are not currently recognized as disabilities under Canadian law, leaving many patients without adequate support or accommodations.”
Canadians affected by these conditions often face high medical costs, long delays in diagnosis, infertility, and barriers to accessing fertility treatments, which are not covered by the public system. According to the petition, “Greater awareness, funding, and official disability recognition would significantly improve the quality of life and equality of care for those living with Endometriosis and Adenomyosis.”
The petitioners therefore make the following request through this document: “We, the undersigned, Residents of Canada, call upon the House of Commons in Parliament assembled to: 1) Officially recognize endometriosis and adenomyosis as conditions that can qualify as disabilities under federal and provincial disability programs when they substantially limit daily activities or the ability to work. 2) Increase and ring-fence dedicated federal funding for endometriosis and adenomyosis research through CIHR and related agencies, prioritizing diagnostics, non-hormonal treatments, and long-term outcomes. 3) Create and fund standardized, evidence-based clinical care pathways and timely referral access across provinces (including diagnostic imaging access, multidisciplinary pelvic pain clinics, and timely surgical.”
Launched on March 10, the petition has reached more than 23,300 signatures. It will be possible to add the signature until July 8 on the House of Commons website at www.ourcommons.ca/petitions (petition code: “e-6929 Health”).
In the photo above: Elizabeth May (Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/elizabethemay)