Hon. Brian Francis: Honourable senators, May is Speech and Hearing Month in Canada, an annual campaign dedicated to raising awareness about communication health and the dedicated professionals, including speech-language pathologists, audiologists and communication health assistants, who help prevent, assess and treat related disorders.

In Canada, there are millions of people who live with swallowing, speech, language and cognitive impairments that can range from mild to profound and can be temporary or permanent, making communication disorders a major public health and accessibility issue.

This year, the theme of Speech and Hearing Month is “Access Changes Everything.” Early detection and intervention lead to stronger health outcomes, deeper social connections and greater opportunities to participate fully in school, work and society. That is why communication health is critical. Unfortunately, access to these services remains out of reach for many in Canada.

In Prince Edward Island, not only do we have the lowest rate of primary care access in Canada, but access to specialist services is limited. As a result, Islanders, particularly children and those with special needs, wait a long time for speech therapy and other services.

While these challenges exist in many parts of Canada, they are even more pronounced among Indigenous communities. For example, there is a higher prevalence of chronic ear infections among Inuit, First Nations and Métis children in Northern Canada, and limited access to care puts many of them at risk of permanent and preventable hearing loss.

Additionally, in early 2025, the federal government drastically narrowed the range of services eligible for funding under Jordan’s Principle, including speech-language pathology and audiology, fuelling concerns that the needs of thousands of First Nations children are not being met.

Colleagues, this Speech and Hearing Month let us recognize that “Access Changes Everything.” While communication health services are too often treated as an optional luxury, communication is a fundamental human right. We must work together to make timely, equitable and comprehensive access a reality for all in Canada.

Wela’lin. Thank you.