Barrie resident Derek Walton, selected by ALS Canada to be their National Advocate met yesterday with Prime Minister Harper in Ottawa.

October 09, 2009

Left to Right: Patrick Brown, Lanny McInnes, Mark Napper, Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper, Felicia Valo, Bobbi Greenberg, Jean-Pierre Julien and David Cameron. Front row: Derek Walton


Derek was involved in various stakeholder roundtable meetings during his visit.  MP Brown arranged for Derek to meet with Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Minister of Health the Hon. Leona Aglukkaq. 

Last spring Derek represented all neurological patients in Canada at a ceremony at the MaRS Centre in Toronto and accepted a cheque for
$15 million to help neurological charities in Canada develop their action plan.

“The meeting with Prime Minister Harper and Minister of Health Aglukkaq was very productive.  Derek eloquently described the need for investment in neurological research” said MP Brown.  “I overheard Derek trying to convince the PM to join him sky diving next year for his ALS fundraiser.  I think the Prime Minister was certainly impressed by Derek’s passion and bravery.” he added.

Neurological disorders are a passion with MP Brown, who was instrumental in the creation of the first ever parliamentary sub-committee on Neurological disorders.  Hearings are expected to start this fall.