Although it was totally unexpected, the gesture made by Premier Brad Wall last week to set Saskatchewan up as a province that would welcome additional research into finding some relief for MS sufferers, is to be applauded. This province certainly does not have a rich history in medical research, but our scientific and medical community has done enough of it in the past to warrant serious consideration moving forward. To seek further knowledge about a controversial procedure that involves angioplasty (liberation) procedures will do nothing but benefit those who are seeking more answers in the fight to cure multiple sclerosis. By agreeing to take on clinical studies, Wall and the province are setting up a scenario that, at the worst, will simply lead to status quo, and at the best will set the path toward verifiable treatment for all or at least some MS sufferers. With 3,500 MS patients listed within the province, the highest per capita in Canada, the decision to set the stage for Saskatchewan to be the proving grounds for more research can only be seen as positive. We understand that in some quarters there is skepticism surrounding the CCVRI procedure, so why not prove them right, or wrong, in a convincing fashion? The MS Society is certainly not ridiculing the idea and why would they? If they're serious about finding a cure, they'll join the research and study teams to either confirm or deny the procedure that is advocated by Dr. Paolo Zamboni, the Italian doctor who pioneered the process which is now being embraced and performed in other countries including Bulgaria, Mexico, Germany and Poland. In fact, The Mercury recently profiled a local MS sufferer who had the procedure completed in Mexico with positive results in the early going. As an additional benefit, we must point out the positive aspects of having medical research done in this province in terms of economic activity and the potential of attracting some of the best and brightest medical and scientific researchers. We understand that some of our medical research facilities in Saskatchewan are second-to-none but the scope of some of the work has been limited. Maybe that will change now. If that segment of our provincial community grows, we can boast of the fact that it was due in large part to a premier who wasn't afraid to show a little boldness and a can-do attitude. We've been critical of our current premier in this corner on occasions when we felt he and his cabinet and caucus colleagues deserved it, but we've always felt that our minds and hearts have been open enough to acknowledge what we feel are brave and positive moves that might just work in our province's favour. This is one of them. Whether the invitation or research projects become a success or failure, we should all appreciate the effort no matter where we stand politically
