The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable John Haggie, Minister of Health and Community Services:

Mr. Speaker, I rise in this Honourable House to acknowledge Epilepsy Awareness Month, and in particular – Purple Day, which takes place on Tuesday, March 26.

Purple Day is an international grassroots effort dedicated to increasing awareness about epilepsy.

Epilepsy can affect anyone, and according to the World Health Organization is the most common serious brain disorder, with no age, racial, social class, national or geographic boundaries. Epilepsy affects over 300,000 Canadians – 10,000 of which are Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this time to recognize Epilepsy Newfoundland and Labrador for the wide range of services and programs they provide, and their continued advocacy work for people living with epilepsy.

I would also like to acknowledge the 2019 Purple Ambassador, Lisa Pack, a young woman from Hermitage, who says epilepsy has never and will never own her life.

On March 26, Confederation Building will be lit purple, and I encourage the members of this Honourable House as well as the general public, to wear this brilliant colour in support of people living with epilepsy in our province. It’s time to end the stigma.

Thank you Mr. Speaker.