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Bill 66, Heart Valve Disease Awareness Act, 2024

Cuzzetto, Rudy

Royal Assent received. Statutes of Ontario 2024,

chapter 29

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Status

Debates

Royal Assent

As Amended by Standing Committee

Original

Bill 66 Royal Assent (PDF)

EXPLANATORY

NOTE

This Explanatory Note was written as a reader’s

aid to Bill 66 and does not form part of the law.

Bill 66 has been enacted as

Chapter 29 of the Statutes of Ontario, 2024.

The

Bill proclaims February 22 in each year as Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day.

The Bill also proclaims the week beginning on the third Monday of September in

each year as Heart Valve Disease Awareness Week.

Bill 66 2024

Act to proclaim Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day and Heart Valve Disease

Awareness Week

Preamble

Over

one million Canadians have heart valve disease (HVD), which involves damage to

one or more heart valves, interrupting the flow of blood. Without treatment,

some forms of HVD can lead to major health problems including reduced mobility,

stroke and heart failure, and can even lead to death.

Approximately

13 per cent of people aged 75 and over have HVD and, with Ontario’s aging

population, the incidence of HVD is increasing. Cardiologists describe this as

the next epidemic of heart disease.

Studies

show the mortality rate in untreated severe, symptomatic aortic stenosis (the

most common form of HVD) is between 25 and 50 per cent per year. However, when

detected early, HVD is increasingly treatable, often with minimally invasive

surgery. Valve repairs and replacements can significantly improve the length

and quality of life for patients with HVD.

Unfortunately,

HVD symptoms vary widely between individuals and are often dismissed as normal

signs of aging. While many patients with HVD may experience shortness of

breath, fatigue, chest pain, heart arrhythmia, dizziness, fainting, swelling of

the ankles, feet or abdomen or difficulties sleeping flat due to cough or

congestion, others do not have any symptoms.

Increased

public awareness and early detection are significant factors in successful

treatment. A simple stethoscope check can detect heart murmurs and other

abnormal sounds that may indicate HVD. Regular screening is particularly

critical for Ontarians at a higher risk of developing HVD, including those over

the age of 60, those with a family history of HVD and those with high blood

pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes or other risk factors for heart disease.

February

22 is recognized annually as HVD Awareness Day by organizations such as the

Alliance for Aging Research, Heart Valve Voice Canada and the Canadian

Cardiovascular Society. The third full week of September will be recognized

annually as HVD Awareness Week by the Global Heart Hub and by HVD patient

organizations around the world, including Heart Valve Voice Canada and the

Canadian Cardiovascular Society.

proclaiming HVD Awareness Day and HVD Awareness Week, the Province of Ontario

recognizes the importance of increasing awareness about the risks and symptoms

of HVD, improving the detection and treatment of HVD and supporting Ontarians

living with HVD and their families.

Therefore,

His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of

the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

Heart

Valve Disease Awareness Day

February

22 in each year is proclaimed as Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day.

Heart

Valve Disease Awareness Week

The

week beginning on the third Monday of September in each year is proclaimed as

Heart Valve Disease Awareness Week.

Commencement

This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

Short

title

The

short title of this Act is the Heart Valve Disease Awareness Act, 2024 .

Bill 66 As Amended by Standing Committee (PDF)

This

reprint of the Bill is marked to indicate the changes that were made in

Committee.

The

changes are indicated by underlines for

new text and a strikethrough for deleted text.

______________

EXPLANATORY

NOTE

The

Bill proclaims February 22 in each year as Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day.

The Bill also proclaims the week beginning on the second third Monday of September in each year as

Heart Valve Disease Awareness Week.

Bill 66 2024

Act to proclaim Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day and Heart Valve Disease

Awareness Week

Preamble

Over

one million Canadians have heart valve disease (HVD), which involves damage to

one or more heart valves, interrupting the flow of blood. Without treatment,

some forms of HVD can lead to major health problems including reduced mobility,

stroke and heart failure, and can even lead to death.

Approximately

13 per cent of people aged 75 and over have HVD and, with Ontario’s aging

population, the incidence of HVD is increasing. Cardiologists describe this as

the next epidemic of heart disease.

Studies

show the mortality rate in untreated severe, symptomatic aortic stenosis (the

most common form of HVD) is between 25 and 50 per cent per year. However, when

detected early, HVD is increasingly treatable, often with minimally invasive

surgery. Valve repairs and replacements can significantly improve the length

and quality of life for patients with HVD.

Unfortunately,

HVD symptoms vary widely between individuals and are often dismissed as normal

signs of aging. While many patients with HVD may experience shortness of

breath, fatigue, chest pain, heart arrhythmia, dizziness, fainting, swelling of

the ankles, feet or abdomen or difficulties sleeping flat due to cough or

congestion, others do not have any symptoms.

Increased

public awareness and early detection are significant factors in successful

treatment. A simple stethoscope check can detect heart murmurs and other

abnormal sounds that may indicate HVD. Regular screening is particularly

critical for Ontarians at a higher risk of developing HVD, including those over

the age of 60, those with a family history of HVD and those with high blood

pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes or other risk factors for heart disease.

February

22 is recognized annually as HVD Awareness Day by organizations such as the

Alliance for Aging Research, Heart Valve Voice Canada and the Canadian

Cardiovascular Society. The second

full week of September is recognized The third full week of September will be recognized

annually as HVD Awareness Week by the Global Heart Hub and by HVD patient

organizations around the world, including Heart Valve Voice Canada and the

Canadian Cardiovascular Society.

proclaiming HVD Awareness Day and HVD Awareness Week, the Province of Ontario

recognizes the importance of increasing awareness about the risks and symptoms

of HVD, improving the detection and treatment of HVD and supporting Ontarians

living with HVD and their families.

Therefore,

His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of

the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

Heart

Valve Disease Awareness Day

February

22 in each year is proclaimed as Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day.

Heart

Valve Disease Awareness Week

The

week beginning on the second

Monday of September third

Monday of September in each year is proclaimed as Heart Valve

Disease Awareness Week.

Commencement

This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

Short

title

The

short title of this Act is the Heart Valve Disease

Awareness Act, 2024 .

Bill 66 Original (PDF)

EXPLANATORY

NOTE

The

Bill proclaims February 22 in each year as Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day.

The Bill also proclaims the week beginning on the second Monday of September in

each year as Heart Valve Disease Awareness Week.

Bill 66 2023

Act to proclaim Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day and Heart Valve Disease

Awareness Week

Preamble

Over

one million Canadians have heart valve disease (HVD), which involves damage to

one or more heart valves, interrupting the flow of blood. Without treatment,

some forms of HVD can lead to major health problems including reduced mobility,

stroke and heart failure, and can even lead to death.

Approximately

13 per cent of people aged 75 and over have HVD and, with Ontario’s aging

population, the incidence of HVD is increasing. Cardiologists describe this as

the next epidemic of heart disease.

Studies

show the mortality rate in untreated severe, symptomatic aortic stenosis (the

most common form of HVD) is between 25 and 50 per cent per year. However, when

detected early, HVD is increasingly treatable, often with minimally invasive

surgery. Valve repairs and replacements can significantly improve the length

and quality of life for patients with HVD.

Unfortunately,

HVD symptoms vary widely between individuals and are often dismissed as normal

signs of aging. While many patients with HVD may experience shortness of

breath, fatigue, chest pain, heart arrhythmia, dizziness, fainting, swelling of

the ankles, feet or abdomen or difficulties sleeping flat due to cough or

congestion, others do not have any symptoms.

Increased

public awareness and early detection are significant factors in successful

treatment. A simple stethoscope check can detect heart murmurs and other abnormal

sounds that may indicate HVD. Regular screening is particularly critical for

Ontarians at a higher risk of developing HVD, including those over the age of

60, those with a family history of HVD and those with high blood pressure, high

cholesterol, diabetes or other risk factors for heart disease.

February

22 is recognized annually as HVD Awareness Day by organizations such as the

Alliance for Aging Research, Heart Valve Voice Canada and the Canadian

Cardiovascular Society. The second full week of September is recognized

annually as HVD Awareness Week by the Global Heart Hub and by HVD patient

organizations around the world, including Heart Valve Voice Canada and the

Canadian Cardiovascular Society.

proclaiming HVD Awareness Day and HVD Awareness Week, the Province of Ontario

recognizes the importance of increasing awareness about the risks and symptoms

of HVD, improving the detection and treatment of HVD and supporting Ontarians

living with HVD and their families.

Therefore,

His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of

the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

Heart

Valve Disease Awareness Day

February

22 in each year is proclaimed as Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day.

Heart

Valve Disease Awareness Week

The

week beginning on the second Monday of September in each year is proclaimed as

Heart Valve Disease Awareness Week.

Commencement

This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

Short

title

The

short title of this Act is the Heart Valve Disease Awareness Act, 2023 .

Date Bill stage Event Outcome Committee

December 19, 2024

Royal Assent

Royal Assent received

December 11, 2024

Third Reading

Vote

Carried

December 11, 2024

Third Reading

Question put

December 11, 2024

Third Reading

Debated

December 11, 2024

Second Reading

Motion to arrange proceedings

April 9, 2024

Second Reading

Ordered for Third Reading

April 9, 2024

Second Reading

Report adopted

April 9, 2024

Second Reading

Reported as amended

Standing Committee on Social Policy

April 9, 2024

Second Reading

Consideration of a Bill

Standing Committee on Social Policy

April 8, 2024

Second Reading

Consideration of a Bill

Standing Committee on Social Policy

April 6, 2023

Second Reading

Ordered referred to Standing Committee

Standing Committee on Social Policy

April 6, 2023

Second Reading

Vote

Carried

April 6, 2023

Second Reading

Question put

April 6, 2023

Second Reading

Debated

February 22, 2023

First Reading

Ordered for Second Reading

February 22, 2023

First Reading

Vote

Carried

First Reading

February 22, 2023

Carried

Second Reading

April 6, 2023

Andrew, Jill

Toronto—St. Paul's

Cuzzetto, Rudy

Mississauga—Lakeshore

Dowie, Andrew

Windsor—Tecumseh

Pierre, Natalie

Burlington

Rakocevic, Tom

Humber River—Black Creek

Saunderson, Brian

Simcoe—Grey

Skelly, Donna

Flamborough—Glanbrook

Vanthof, John

Timiskaming—Cochrane

Carried

Ordered referred to Standing Committee

Standing Committee on Social Policy

April 8, 2024

Consideration of a Bill

Standing Committee on Social Policy

April 9, 2024

Consideration of a Bill

Standing Committee on Social Policy

April 9, 2024

Reported as amended

Standing Committee on Social Policy

Report adopted

Ordered for Third Reading

December 11, 2024

Motion to arrange proceedings

Third Reading

December 11, 2024

Debated

Question put

Carried

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