Sickle Cell Disease Legislative Bills

Bill S-288
SCAGO alongside other GANSID member organisations were instrumental in getting this billed introduced in the senate. Senator Jane Cordy introduced Bill S288- An Act recognizing October 18 of every year as the National Inherited Blood Disorders Awareness Day at the Canadian Senate on September 19, 2024. This move has made Canada a world leader and the first country in the world to recognize inherited blood disorders in this way.

Among other benefits, the Inherited Blood Disorders Awareness Day will bring together otherwise separate and unique rare inherited blood disorders under one umbrella and will maximize their visibility and advocacy for patients, many of whom belong to marginalized communities that do not have adequate access to medical care. For more on Bill S-288, click here.

Watch the Inherited Day Bill Video
Inherited Day Bill S-288 First Reading


Bill 255
The Sickle Cell Awareness Group of Ontario and the Thalassemia Foundation of Canada thank Hon. Andrea Khanjin and Hon. Rudy Cuzzetto for introducing Bill 255 in recognition of June 19 as Provincial Sickle Cell Awareness Day and May 8 as Provincial Thalassemia Awareness Day. This Bill introduced on March 1st, 2021 passed quickly through the first and second readings; and the Standing Committee on Regulations and Private Bills on April 21, 2021. The bill passed on June 3rd 2021. For more on Bill 255, click here.

Bill S-211
Under the leadership of Mrs. Lanre Tunji-Ajayi, M.S.M, the founding president/CEO of the Sickle Cell Disease Association of Canada, June 19 was recognized as World Sickle Cell Day in Canada, receiving royal assent on December 12, 2017. Advocacy for this Bill took over a year and patient advocates including the young Adeniyi Omishore spoke on Parliament Hill about how sickle cell disease affects individuals living with the disease. For more on Bill S-211, click here.

Bill 175
Mike Colle re-introduced Bill 105 as Bill 175 to establish the Sickle Cell and Thalassemia Care Ontario and to proclaim Sickle Cell and Thalassemia Awareness Day. The Bill’s first reading was carried on March 19, 2014.
For more on Bill 175, click here.

Bill 105
In 2012, the Sickle Cell Awareness Group of Ontario and the Thalassemia Foundation of Canada met with MPP. Mike Colle asked him to introduce a Bill to support individuals with Sickle Cell Disease and Thalassemic Disorders in Ontario. On June 7th, 2012, MPP. Mike Colle introduced Bill 105- An Act to establish Sickle Cell and Thalassemia Care Ontario and to proclaim Sickle Cell and Thalassemia Awareness Day. For more on Bill 105, click here.

Bill C-221
During the 41st Parliament, Hon. Kirsty Duncan re-introduced Bill C-605 as Bill C-221-An Act respecting a comprehensive national strategy for sickle cell and thalassaemic disorders. For more on Bill C-221, click here.

Bill C-605
In 2010, the Sickle Cell Awareness Group of Ontario in collaboration with the Thalassemia Foundation of Canada sought MP. Kirsty Duncan’s support to introduce a National Bill for Sickle Cell Disease and Thalassemia Disorders. Bill C-605- An Act respecting a Comprehensive National Strategy for Sickle Cell Disease and Thalassaemic Disorders was introduced and made first reading in the House of Parliament on December 13th, 2010 during the 40th Parliament. For more on Bill C-605, click here.