Canadian Medical Association Support Lung Association’s Push for Pet-Free Flights

August 19th, 2009

CLA asks: Where’s Health Chair Joy Smith’s leadership on this issue?

(Ottawa) – Following the decision by the Canadian Medical Association to support The Lung Association’s campaign for pet-free flights, The Lung Association released the following statement:

“The decision by the Canadian Medical Association to support pet-free flights is a win for all those Canadians who suffer from asthma, COPD, lung cancer or other respiratory diseases that could be made worse by exposure to animals.

We applaud the CMA for joining us in this campaign and for demonstrating leadership on an issue important to thousands of Canadian air travellers and crew.

Our question now is this: If Canada’s largest medical association can join the campaign for pet-free flights, why won’t federal Health Committee Chair Joy Smith do the same thing?  It is concerning that 47 days after she began receiving thousands of emails from concerned Canadians on this topic, her response continues to echo that of the airlines.

It is our hope that Ms. Smith will join with her two Committee Vice-Chairs, Joyce Murray and Judy Wasylycia-Leis, by committing to examining this issue at the federal Health Committee.  We know Ms. Smith is interested in protecting the lung health of air travellers and crew, and holding public hearings on this issue is an excellent way to demonstrate a commitment to public health in Canada”

Canadians can take part in the online campaign by visiting www.lung.ca/petsonplanes

For more information, media representatives may contact:

Cameron Bishop
Director of Government Affairs and Media Relations
The Lung Association
613-569-6411, ext, 223