Gravelle's National Dementia Strategy Defeated In Parliament

By Angela Gemmill

New Democrat Claude Gravelle says years of hard work haven’t completely gone down the drain.

Last week in Ottawa, the Nickel Belt M-P saw Bill C-356, his national strategy for dementia, defeated in a narrow 140-139 vote.

Gravelle says it was frustrating since many M-Ps, including some Liberal and Conservative ones, told him they would support the private members’ bill

He says he’s had emails from across Canada from those who work with dementia patients, who are also frustrated by the recent political games.

Gravelle says if he returns to parliament after the fall federal election he’ll attempt to bring the dementia bill back for a vote with new MPs.

He says the one positive is: the issues surrounding dementia are being discussed in the media, which he says wasn’t happening before.