Bill C-51

I just got an email back from my local MP, Libby Davies, about Bill C-51. This bill proposes to regulate and illegalize consumer use of natural health remedies - the issue is currently a hot debate in Canada’s Parliament, and it’s nice to see so many of my neighbours getting riled up about it. Of course, Vancouver East residents are particularly fond of their natural health remedies.

While Bill C-51 is hardly the USA Patriot Act, it does contain some pretty scary stuff that infringes on our rights as private citizens. The Stop C-51 website lists some of the entries in the bill that are of particular interest, including information pertaining to the seizure of private property without a warrant and at the cost of the property holder. Check it out…

Here’s what her letter said, if you’re interested.

Dear Malloreigh,

Thanks for your message expressing your opposition to Bill C-51, An Act to Amend the Food and Drugs Act.

This bill contains a lot of proposed changes. Some of there are necessary and have been long needed. Others are more troublesome.

I am particularly concerned that this bill opens the door for direct-to-consumer advertising from pharmacological and other companies, which is currently banned in Canada. I do not feel this bill allows for strong enough pre-market testing of pharmaceuticals and do not feel it creates a transparent system of drug safety and testing.

One of the biggest issues I have heard from people in Vancouver East are the proposed changes to the way natural health products may be addressed. I favour an approach that will balance the right of Canadians to choose health products for themselves, with the need for oversight and regulation, to ensure the safety of consumers. As it is, I think the bill needs to be changed, in terms of what type of oversight it will mandate for natural health products.

My colleague, MP Judy Wasylycia-Leis, is the NDP Health Critic. She, and all of us, will be watching the progress of this bill very carefully, and will be representing the NDP on the committee that will study the
bill. She will be bringing all these concerns, and more, forward to the committee and will get this bill changed. I am including a link to the debate in Parliament about this bill, here:

Bill C-51 in Parliament

Thanks again for writing - letters like yours help me keep the pressure on here in Ottawa.

Sincerely,

Libby Davies, MP
Vancouver East

This entry was posted on Friday, May 23rd, 2008 at 5:45 pm and is filed under Activism, Politics. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

One Response to “Bill C-51”

  1. erik Says:
    May 26th, 2008 at 1:56 am

    Great to see that there are those still out there that are willing to express their opinions to their local politician. And she replied, AND was on your side. Nice.

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