Ottawa, ON – Cariboo-Prince George Conservative MP Todd Doherty is hoping his private members bill –Bill C211 – will take another step forward tomorrow.

The bill is up for third reading and aims to provide a national framework with respect to post-traumatic stress disorder.

“It’s a big deal, it would mean that those families that have been seeking answers, have been seeking help, will hopefully be able to get it,” says Doherty.

“It means that provinces will then be able to have some guidelines and leadership from the federal government in terms of occupational stress, injuries, PTSD, workplace incidents for first responders, military and our veterans.”

He’s expecting the House of Commons gallery will be packed to the rafters with support like it was during second reading of the bill earlier this year.

Doherty says he’s “cautiously optimistic” it will receive unanimous support before being sent to the Senate for a review and ultimately Royal Assent.

“We are cautiously optimistic but you never know. This is not a partisan issue and we’re hoping that it continues to remain that way and all signs are good at this point.”

Appropriate timing for the bill as June is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Month in Canada.

According to the U.S.- based National Centre for PTSD, about seven or eight out of 100 people will experience PTSD at some point in their lives.