NDP MPP Peter Kormos says it’s time to start saving lives and change Ontario’s organ donation laws to presumed consent.

“Public opinion clearly demonstrates that the time for presumed consent is now. More and more people are coming to the same conclusion – presumed consent will mean more organs available for transplant and more lives saved,” Kormos said.

Kormos was responding to an Angus Reid poll that revealed nearly two-thirds of Ontarians support provincial legislation that would make everyone an automatic organ donor unless they explicitly opt out. Currently in Ontario, almost 1,700 people are in need of an organ transplant (Source: Canadian Institute for Health Information). Every year, Ontarians die waiting.

“A clear and strong majority of Ontarians support presumed consent and it’s time the McGuinty Liberals heed the call for change,” said Kormos.

This fall, Kormos will re-introduce his private members’ bill to adopt presumed consent legislation. Currently the law presumes denial. Kormos’ bill would permit people who do not want to donate organs to save lives to simply say no. The private member’s bill protects personal choice. It gives an individual the right to refuse organ donation.

“It’s tragic that Ontarians are dying while perfectly good organs are being burned or buried because the McGuinty Liberals persist in maintaining the status quo. Presumed consent is in place in numerous other jurisdictions, it should also be the law in Ontario," said Kormos.