Senators owner Eugene Melnyk creates foundation to boost organ donation

Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk, who received life-saving liver tissue from a live donor in 2015, has created a foundation to build more awareness about organ donation.

• Eugene Melnyk undergoes successful liver transplant

• Melnyk 'exhausted' all options before going public about liver issue

The aim of the foundation, called The Organ Project, is to educatepeople about theimpact of organ transplant wait lists,encourage people to donate their organs by registering in their province or territory, and remind registered donors to share their wishes with family and friends.

Melnyksaid he wanted to make sure he made the announcement in Ottawa.

"As it's very significant that it was this very room that we made a plea to the public for an organ to save my life," he told reporters Wednesday, adding thathe wants to make organ donation "as normal and expected as wearing yourseatbelt."

So far, Melnyk and others have contributed more than $3 million to the foundation.

Call for central registry

Other funds raised will go toward working with "stakeholders, organizations and government agencies across North America to help identify possible solutions to other obstacles within the organ donation and transplant system," according to the release.

"Our objective is to get rid of these lines. There's no reason for them," said Melnyk.

"We can do it right now, like instantly, overnight, if we had some of the legislation in place that they do in other countries around the world."

It's all over the place. You could be registered in three provinces. It's just a mess.- Eugene Melnyk

Melnyk pointed to Spain's opt-out organ donation system, where everyone is born as an organ donor, but can choose to opt out if they wish.

He also detailed differences between Canada and the United States.

"They have federal legislation. Here we don't have that yet and we are going to be doing everything we can to change some of these rules and regulations and legislation," said Melnyk,calling for the establishment of a central registry in Canada.

"It's all over the place. You could be registered in three provinces. It's just a mess," he said.

The Organ Project will roll out in Ontario first, thenexpand to the rest of Canada within about a year, Melnyk said.

The foundation's inaugural gala will be held in Toronto March 31 and will feature a performance by Carrie Underwood, wife of former Sens forward Mike Fisher, who now plays for the Nashville Predators.