Additional resources and assistance for people with Multiple Sclerosis may soon be on the way as a new motion on MS makes its way through the House of Commons.

Vegreville-Wainwright MP Leon Benoit's private members bill had its first hour of debate in parliament at the end of November and is now one step closer to being passed.

The bill calls for increased government support for those suffering from MS and for the government to provide patients with the most accurate and up to date information on treatment for chronic cerebro-spinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI).

"This is a very important issue to constituents in my riding as well as those who suffer from MS across the country," said Benoit, who has for the last few months been speaking with constituents who are affected by MS.

"I have been getting calls from people with MS and their families… they (all) had a compelling story to tell."

Benoit said he put forward the motion after meeting with an MS group from Lloydminster and after hearing stories from people who have had the procedure for CCSVI done, but wanted to see it done in Canada.

Although the procedure is not currently done in Canada Benoit said process the government has put in place may lead to the procedure being done here in the next two to three years.

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research began calling for proposals for CCSVI clinical trials on Nov. 30, after Health Canada agreed to support the trials in June.

His private members bill is intended to help patients in the meantime find information and resources.

"What my motion was all about was trying to make sure people who were deciding whether to go get this procedure done have more information on which to base their decision," said Benoit.

"Some people may think well is it really worth it for just two or three years? Well, for a lot of people two or three years is a lifetime."

The difference between having the treatment or not can mean the difference between living in pain and living a relatively normal life for some patients, said Benoit.

A second hour of debate on the bill will be held in the New Year and the next steps for the bill will then be determined.

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