Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte MP Doug Shipley has introduced a private members bill to eliminate the goods and services tax and harmonized sales tax from the sale of defibrillators, as well as kits containing automated external defibrillators (AED), and parts and services for AED.
Shipley believes this will increase the accessibility and affordability of these lifesaving devices.
" We know that making defibrillators easily accessible in public buildings such as hockey arenas and airports have the potential to save thousands of lives," said Shipley. "In my community alone, 51 lives have been saved in the past 20 years thanks to the County of Simcoe Paramedic Services' public access defibrillators program."
In a news release on Tuesday, Shipley said everything should be done to get these lifesaving devices in as many places as possible.
“This legislation will be a game changer for individuals living in rural communities who may wish to purchase an AED for their home, farm, or cottage, who currently do not have access to an AED."
According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, as many as 45,000 Canadians experience a sudden cardiac arrest each year - and 80 per cent occur outside of a hospital setting. With each passing minute of cardiac arrest, the probability of survival declines by up to 10 per cent. Defibrillation improves survival rates significantly if delivered in the first few minutes. AEDs combined with CPR increase survival rates to 50 per cent or more.
Banner image - September 2021 - file photo/Barrie 360
