SENATEAT2NDREADING

Private Member's Bill

45th Parliament · Session 1

Bill C-234: An Act respecting the establishment and award of a Living Donor Recognition Medal

Living Donor Recognition Medal Act

Introduced

September 22, 2025

Current Stage

SenateAt2ndReading

Last Updated

April 23, 2026

Sponsor

Ziad Aboultaif

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Bill C-234

Thu Apr 23 2026

An Act respecting the establishment and award of a Living Donor Recognition Medal

Impact Rating

1/5

Short Summary

Establishes a new national medal to honor living Canadians who donate organs, aiming to recognize their sacrifice and encourage donation.

Organ Donation

Healthcare

Public Recognition

Civic Awards

Detailed Analysis

This bill creates a new official national award called the 'Living Donor Recognition Medal'. It is designed to honor Canadian citizens and permanent residents who have donated an organ (or tissue) while they are still alive. The goal is to formally recognize the sacrifice these individuals make to save lives and to encourage more people to consider organ donation. The bill explicitly prevents politicians, such as Senators and MPs, from receiving this medal.

Why does this bill exist?

Origin (Public Outcry/Event)

Response to the chronic shortage of organs for transplant and a desire to better value those who donate.

Key Points

Establishes the 'Living Donor Recognition Medal' for living organ donors.
Eligibility is open to Canadian citizens and permanent residents.
Politicians (MPs and Senators) are strictly banned from receiving the medal.
Medals are to be presented in public ceremonies to raise awareness.
The government must report annually to Parliament on how many medals were awarded.
The definition of 'organ' includes any form of human tissue.

Impact By Group

Living Organ Donors

(Rights Expanded)

Will be eligible to receive a formal medal and public recognition for their donation.

Federal Politicians

(Rights Restricted)

Are specifically disqualified from receiving this award.

Taxpayers

(Neutral)

Minimal cost for the production of medals.

Provincial Impact

None (Purely Federal) Interaction

This creates a federal award and does not interfere with provincial healthcare systems.

Benefits & Pros

Provides official state recognition for a life-saving sacrifice.

May help raise awareness and encourage more people to become living donors.

Explicitly excludes politicians, ensuring the award is for the public, not the powerful.

Low-cost initiative with high symbolic value.

Beneficiaries

Living Organ Donors

Patients awaiting transplants (indirectly)

Risks & Cons

Does not provide any financial support or tax benefits to donors, only a medal.

Adds a small administrative task to the government to manage nominations and distribution.

Some may argue resources should be spent on transplant infrastructure rather than ceremonies.

Affected Groups

None

Before & After

Currently, a person who donates a kidney receives personal thanks but no official state honour. Under this bill, that same donor would be officially nominated for and presented with a medal by a representative of the Crown to honor their contribution to Canada.

Real World Scenario

Currently: A father donates part of his liver to his child. He goes back to work after recovery with no official recognition. Under this Bill: That father could be nominated to receive the Living Donor Recognition Medal at a public ceremony.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I get paid for donating an organ under this bill?

Can I get this medal if I am a Permanent Resident?

Who decides who gets the medal?

Sponsor

Ziad Aboultaif

Member of Parliament

House of Commons

First reading

Completed on September 22, 2025

Second reading

Completed on December 11, 2025

Consideration in committee

Completed on March 25, 2026

Report stage

Completed on April 22, 2026

Third reading

Completed on April 22, 2026

Senate

First reading

Completed on April 23, 2026

Second reading

Not yet started

Third reading

Not yet started

Abuse Potential

The potential for abuse in this bill is negligible. It grants no enforcement powers, collects no taxes, and restricts no rights. The only theoretical risk is the politicization of the nomination process or administrative waste in the production of the medals, but the exclusion of sitting politicians serves as a safeguard against self-congratulation by the government.

Financial Impact

Administrative change only. Costs are limited to the design, production, and shipping of medals, and the organizing of presentation ceremonies.

Implementation Risk

Low. The only risk is a delay in designing the medal or setting up the nomination committee.

Broad Economic Impact

None.

Everyday Life

Minimal impact. No change for the average person unless they are involved in organ donation.

Admin Burden

Low. Requires a new system to track and award medals.

Timeline

The program will start after the bill passes and the medal design is approved.

Bill Text Versions

3 Versions

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Summary

This enactment establishes a medal to be awarded to admissible persons who have donated one of their organs during their lifetime without profiting from their donation.

Full Text

Short Title Short title 1 This Act may be cited as the Living Donor Recognition Medal Act . Interpretation Definitions 2 The following definitions apply in this Act. Medal means the Living Donor Recognition Medal established under section 4.‍ ( médaille ) Minister means the member of the King’s Privy Council for Canada designated under section 3. ( ministre ) organ means any form of human tissue, including blood and bone marrow. ( organe ) Designation Minister 3 The Governor in Council may, by order, designate a member of the King’s Privy Council for Canada as the Minister for the purpose of this Act. Medal Establishment 4 A medal to be called the Living Donor Recognition Medal is established. Design of Medal 5 The Governor in Council may determine the design of the Medal and its associated ribbon. Award of Medal 6 (1) The Governor General may award the Medal to a person who has donated one of their organs without profiting from the donation and is eligible for the Medal under the regulations. Single award (2) The Medal is not to be awarded more than once to the same person. Awards ceremony 7 In order to recognize and promote living organ donation, the Medal is to be presented to the recipient, whenever possible, in a public ceremony and by a representative of the Crown, a territorial commissioner, a Senator, a member of the House of Commons or a representative of an entity prescribed by regulation or of an entity of a prescribed class of entities. A public servant designated by the Office of the Governor General’s Secretary determines whether the ceremony is public and the choice of presenter. Post-nominal letters 7.1 A recipient of the Medal is entitled to use the post-nominal letters “L.D.M.”. Regulations Regulations 8 The Governor in Council may make regulations (a) respecting the eligibility criteria for the Medal; (b) prescribing entities or classes of entities that are responsible for assessing eligibility for the Medal or assisting with that assessment; and (c) prescribing entities or classes of entities for the purposes of section 7. Prerogative Prerogative not affected 9 Nothing in this Act limits the right of the Governor General to exercise all powers and authorities of His Majesty in respect of the Medal.

Version History

April 23, 2026 at 03:05 PM

Doc ID: 14036634

March 25, 2026 at 11:03 PM

Doc ID: 13990352

September 23, 2025 at 04:08 AM

Doc ID: 13599295