On Sunday, March 23, 2025, Parliament was officially dissolved—just shy of us seeing our petition, e-5186, reach the House of Commons floor. For our team and the thousands of Canadians who stood with us, the news came with disappointment—we had come so close. And while we’d be fibbing if we said it didn’t sting, we know better than to let one setback stop the whole show.
I’ve been thinking back lately to my junior high school years—specifically math class. Trust me, I hated math. Heather, on the other hand, didn’t hate anything nearly as much as she loved making sure I succeeded. She would plant me at the kitchen table (usually against my will), driving me to tutoring sessions and after-school help, all so I could reach that passing grade of 70%. Meanwhile, my sister, Bethany—who aimed for nothing less than perfection—would’ve spent days sulking if she came home with anything lower than a 90%.
But Heather’s belief in me never wavered, even when mine did. She knew that success isn’t just about hard work—it’s about timing, the environment you’re in, and someone believing in your potential even before you do.
Years later, I went back to upgrade my math after high school so I could apply to university. And you know what? I walked out of that final exam with a 92%. Heather had been right all along. I wasn’t failing because I wasn’t capable—I just needed the right conditions to thrive. She made sure I had them.
That’s what I’m holding onto now, and why I’m sharing this with you.
Because while this round in Parliament wasn’t our time, it doesn’t mean we weren’t ready. It doesn’t mean the issue wasn’t urgent. It just means we didn’t have enough time to cross the finish line. But we do now.
And come May 19, we’re launching our second push—refined, re-energized, and ready to meet the 500-signature threshold required for a formal government response. More importantly, we’re ready to push for what Heather always wanted: for pancreatic cancer to finally be recognized as a national priority in Canada.
Key Moments in the Timeline
- January 2024: After months of groundwork and failure to be authorized by Canada’s health minister Mark Holland, e-5186 is submitted to the House of Commons, authorized by MP Seamus O‘ Regan.
- Feb–Mar 2025: The petition gains momentum across Canada, reaching communities often left behind in national cancer strategies.
- March 2025: The #WEARECANADATOO street campaign to urge federal action on pancreatic cancer takes place in the foundations home province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
- April 23, 2025: Parliament is dissolved. e-5186 is withdrawn, just shy of the finish line at 346/500 signatures.
But here’s the thing: we’re not just rallying support for e-5186 all over again. We’re taking this moment to build something even stronger.
As Parliament prepares to reconvene, so are we. For the last week, we’ve been actively engaging with departments across Canada—policy advisors, health ministries, and research institutions—to lay the groundwork for something bigger than a petition alone. Right now, our team is drafting a formal policy brief for submission to the House of Commons and its Standing Committee on Health once sessions resume.
This brief outlines bold but actionable federal priorities for improving pancreatic cancer outcomes in Canada. It calls for:
- The establishment of national guidelines for pancreatic cancer care, including somatic testing and evidence-based treatment pathways;
- Equitable access to clinical trials regardless of geography or income;
- Transparency in drug approval and funding processes, which too often stall life-saving treatments;
- And most urgently, a concrete federal commitment to expand research investment into one of the deadliest cancers facing Canadians.
This isn’t just about telling our story again—it’s about showing government exactly what needs to change, and backing it up with evidence, expertise, and lived experience.
We’ve already begun outreach to prospective contributors—public health experts, healthcare researchers, and policy advisors—because we know we can’t do this alone. But we also know we’re not starting from scratch. We’re building on everything Heather taught us: show up, stay ready, and never assume the work is finished just because the system said no the first time.
So as May 19 approaches, we’re not waiting for change. We’re drafting it. We’re demanding it. And with your support, we’re going to deliver it straight to Parliament Hill.
