A new petition asking the Canadian government for a better action plan to combat Lyme disease has been sponsored by Green party Leader Elizabeth May.

May was responsible for the introduction and approval of Bill 442, requiring the government to create an action plan with input from Lyme patients and experts; but, according to the petition, the recently released draft plan did not reflect that collaboration and needs to be rewritten.

The May petition replaces a similar petition created by Lyme patients and their families.

The earlier petition managed to get 35,000 signatures, according to Thornhill Lyme patient Shari Allen. However, in order for petitions to be defended or represented in Parliament, they must be registered through the government website.