Canada - Bill C51

Off Topic Politics & World Issues
1

Anyone hear about this?

They are removing our right to choose health foods/supplements as we see fit, and at the same time fast-tracking pharmaceutical approval.

This is ridiculous. I’ve never been to a protest/rally in my life, but I will be going tomorrow. Canadian supplement laws already piss me off. There are lots of things we can’t get here that you can in the US. But if this bill goes through, I wouldn’t be surprised if most Biotest products are banned.

Sorry to bitch about this, but I’m getting unbelievably tired of the continual nanny-state laws that keep on going through (both in the US and Canada). I’ve always been a conservative, but the so called conservative governments that are in power right now are a disgrace. The big spending, and right-wing authoritarianism have got to stop.

2

Ridiculous.

It’s only a matter of time before this happens in the US because our government is a group of Rx whores, and that’s when I’m moving.

3

Let’s hope the Chinese population understand the significance of this bill and just what it will do to their traditional form of health care.

I find it difficult at the best of times to understand the stupidity of people. Food is food and should never be governed beyond proper labeling of contents. However with the constant rise in the ignorance of the general population. Their lack of ability to use common sense and their growing need to be nurtured for their entire life. Those of us that desire to a life style beyond the scope of intelligence of the average idiot are going to suffer.

We do however have the ability to stop or at least slow down the process until the next election. Canada is not known for passing bills very quickly and having a minority government it should be possible to monkey wrench their attempt to fuck your lives up yet again.

There are times then the power of the protest is a valid one. In this case the majority of professional protesters are health oriented. This should make for a good fight. I for one shall be writing my local idiot to express my views in a diplomatic way, self control is needed at times like these. It is once again time re-educate our representatives to the true facts of life.

4

Yea, but you can smoke the fuck out of some pot!

5

What does the law really say?

6

Contact your MP’s using the attached letter and let them know that you won’t stand for this shit!

SAMPLE LETTER

(Insert Date)

(Insert name of M.P. & Address)

Dear (insert name of M.P.)

As a constituent, I am very concerned about the ongoing debate on Bill C-51 and the impact on natural health products.
As a consumer of natural health products, I have several concerns regarding this legislation:

  • C-51 pushes natural health products further into the same laws that govern prescription drugs;

  • Much of the details in C-51 are left up to regulations. The true impact of Bill C-51 on natural health products is unclear;

  • Forfeiture and seizure provisions for natural health products under C-51 may be made without a warrant or judge�??s approval. Fines will also skyrocket.

Consider these important facts:

  • Natural Health Products (NHPs) and Foods include vitamins, minerals, herbal remedies, homeopathic medicines, sports nutrition products, natural products and organic foods.

  • According to a 2005 Ipsos-Reid survey for Health Canada, 76% of Canadians have used natural health products (NHP).

  • The Canadian NHP industry is valued at over $2.5 billion annually

  • The Canadian organic food industry is valued at over $1 billion in retail sales and grew 20% in recent years.

The majority of Canadians rely on the use of NHPs to maintain and improve their health and well being. I believe that it is critical for Canada to have the right legislative and regulatory frameworks in place.

My concern is that Bill C-51 will not provide the right framework for natural health products, which are low risk and have demonstrated benefits.

Consequently, what is urgently needed in my opinion as a consumer of NHPs, is a third category for natural health products which would enable our industry to be dealt with separately from the food category and the drug category due to its unique characteristics.

The proposal of a third category is also directly in line with the 53 recommendations brought forth by the Standing Committee on Health�??s 1998 proposal on NHPs and will help respond to Canadians�?? demand for these products more effectively and appropriately.

As your constituent, I would like to know what you will be doing about Bill C-51. I urge you to consider my position and forward it on to parliamentary colleagues. Bill C-51 is a great opportunity for our Government to do the right thing and treat NHPs in a manner which is consistent with consumers�?? demands and needs.

Our industry asks for your help in ensuring that this gets done as it is not in the Canadian consumer�??s best interest to have NHPs treated in the same category as drugs, nor does it make sense to do so.

I thank you for your attention to this matter, and would welcome the opportunity to meet personally with you to discuss this issue in more detail. I can be reached at (XXX)-XXX-XXXX and look forward to hearing from your office.

Sincerely,

(Signature)

(Name and title)

7

I’m not one to ever go to protests either, I’m usually a conservative minded guy as well but I do NOT like this one bit. Toronto rally… sigh here I come

8

Like this law or hate it, at least part of it is a natural extension of heavy public involvement in health care. The more government runs health care, the more government will want to dictate choices for you.

That said, I am no libertarian when it comes to the health care system - but this is one inevitable trade-off.

9

More info from the Colgan Institute:

Dr Michael Colgan

Bill C-51: (proposed changes to the Food and Drug Act): is already in its covert second reading in the House. 70% of Canadians use natural health products.

If you want to continue to be able to buy
vitamins, minerals and herbals, including Chinese medicines over the counter, It�??s time for you to act.

This complex bill is being pushed through fast at the urging of big Pharmaceutical companies in a carefully planned attempt to take over the booming Canadian natural medicines market.

Here is my summary interpretation of a few of its long and complex contents.

  1. Every natural product seller must license EACH product and pay a fee to renew this license each year. The proposed fees will bankrupt small companies leaving only large companies (i.e.pharmaceutical companies) to take over the products. It will more than double the prices you are paying
    today.

  2. All natural health products (other than food) will become ‘therapeutic products’. The last time Canadians spoke out against similar proposals, it turned out to be the biggest outcry by the people in Canadian history.

It was definitely heard when Canadians bombarded the government with the message ‘don’t treat our foods as drugs’, and hence a 3rd category was developed, Food, Drugs, & NHP (natural
health products). It�??s nothing personal, just business that the big pharmaceutical companies are trying again to gain control. It�??s time to tell government again, loudly, to leave our natural health products alone.

  1. To sell a �??therapeutic product�?? without a license will be deemed �??prescribing�?? and will render naturopathic, homeopathic, traditional Chinese medicine, and other natural healthcare practitioners and natural product stores liable to prosecution.

  2. Prescription of natural health products will be restricted to licensed practitioners, so members of the public will no longer have the right to obtain and use any natural health products, including all herbals, without a prescription. Typically when any product becomes a prescription the price increases 8-10 fold.

  3. Product monographs (information) in any form, newsletters, books, peer-reviewed papers or emails, will become part of the natural product label, with the threat of prosecution if this doesn�??t agree with Health Canada views. Doesn�??t that sound a bit like China, where information that the government
    does not want made public is simply not available on the internet or elsewhere, and anyone who thwarts the rule disappears.

  4. Government appointed inspectors would be given the power to enter your home or place of business, at any time, and if they find a controlled herb or vitamin without a prescription, you are in big trouble, with seizure of your home and possessions the least of your worries.

The new penalties include fines of up to $250,000 and/or imprisonment of up to 6 months for a first offence. For indictable offences you can be fined up to $5,000,000 and/or imprisonment of up to 2 years. These are penalties that no
natural health practitioners and few manufacturers could survive.

Read a copy of Bill C-51 for yourself at: Parliamentary Business Events, Calendar, and Publications - House of Commons of Canada

Contact your Member of Parliament ASAP and Inform him/her that:

you are opposed to Bill C-51; you want him/her to vote against Bill C-51; you want your access to natural health products protected.

To find out who your MP is, search by postal code at:

http://www2.parl.gc.ca/Parlinfo/Compilations/
Forward this article to everyone you know and request that they do the same.

Phone your MP and the Prime Minister’s Office to voice your concerns. Stephen Harper’s phone numbers are (613) 992-4211 and (403) 253-7990.

Minister of Health Tony Clements phone numbers are (613) 944-7740 and (705) 746-9053.

You can send letters without postage to any MP or minister to:

(Name of person)

House of Commons
Ottawa, ON, K1A 0A6

Introduce this issue to your local media.
Good Luck fellow Canadians. Our freedoms in this wonderful country were hard won by
past generations. We have a duty now to protect them for our children.

10

By the way, it seems that the main stream media has failed to mention that our good ol’ Health Minister Tony Clement, holds a 25% stake in Prudential Pharmaceuticals in Toronto. Fucker.

11

It scares the shit out of me to think what these asshole Pharmaceutical companies will do to a preventive medical product like fish oil. Not to mention all the other products that help us maintain our good health, without draining our pocket books.

12

[quote]streamline wrote:
It scares the shit out of me to think what these asshole Pharmaceutical companies will do to a preventive medical product like fish oil. Not to mention all the other products that help us maintain our good health, without draining our pocket books. [/quote]

I honestly don’t know what I’d do with myself if this stupid thing goes though.

13

Snuggling up to that honey in your avatar might ease the pain.

Seriously though, if this goes through TC and the boys can kiss the Canadian market goodbye.

14

[quote]GumsMagoo wrote:
Snuggling up to that honey in your avatar might ease the pain.

Seriously though, if this goes through TC and the boys can kiss the Canadian market goodbye.[/quote]

Pretty big market too, if we get it then the Americans won’t be too far behind.

If we bow to some extremist law, then it’s just a fact the americans will have it too.

15

I read through the posts and some of the links you guys posted…is this real? It feels like I’m in some bizarro universe.

Thanks to the OP for bringing it up though. I’ll be sure to keep up with the issue and do something about it.

16

[quote]forevernewb wrote:
I read through the posts and some of the links you guys posted…is this real? It feels like I’m in some bizarro universe.

Thanks to the OP for bringing it up though. I’ll be sure to keep up with the issue and do something about it.[/quote]

Nobody knows about it, that’s the scary part. It’s not on any major news source.

17

They can have my supplements when they pry them from my cold dead hands!

18

I attended the rally in Calgary last week. There were a fair amount of people, but we need A LOT more to be able to make a difference.

And even worse, we need them soon. Bill C51 is currently being fast-tracked so it will be passed before anyone seems to notice.

19

http://www.cbc.ca/clips/mov/taylor-label-fight-080509.mov

20

Dare I say scarier?

http://www.michaelgeist.ca/content/view/2915/125/