Minister Of Health Urges Senate To Restore Bill C-6 To Its Original Intended Scope, Canada

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 09 Dec 2009 - 4:00 PDT

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The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, alongside Pamela Fuselli, Executive Director, Safe Kids Canada and Anu Bose, Head of Ottawa Office for Option Consommateurs, today urged all members of the Senate to put the health and safety of Canadians first by restoring Bill C-6, the proposed Canada Consumer Product Safety Act, to its original intended scope.

In January 2009, the Government of Canada introduced the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act to modernize and strengthen existing legislation and equip the government with new tools to act more quickly and effectively to protect the health and safety of Canadians. On December 2, 2009, the Senate Social Affairs, Science and Technology committee made a number of amendments which render the Bill dysfunctional.

"A handful of opposition Senators are trying to water down the proposed Act and consequently add extra steps in the process, slowing matters down needlessly," said Minister Aglukkaq. "The amendments made to the Bill do nothing to improve the health and safety of Canadians. They do, however, considerably weaken the bill by putting the interest of industry ahead of the health and safety of Canadians."

"If Bill C-6 were to be passed today with the Senate Committee's proposed amendments, the health and safety of Canadians and our children would be put at risk," said Pamela Fuselli, Executive Director, Safe Kids Canada. "In order to protect Canadians in a timely manner from dangerous and hazardous products on the market, Bill C-6 must be passed in its original form without amendments, which was passed unanimously by the House of Commons. We want our children to be safe this holiday season and in the future."

"Bill C-6; The Consumer Product Safety Act is a long overdue but crucial piece of legislation," said Anu Bose, Head of the Ottawa office for Option Consommateurs. "It would give the government the ability to issue a timely mandatory recall once the product is deemed unsafe."

This Government is committed to improving its ability to take timely compliance and enforcement action when unsafe products are identified to avoid injuries and deaths. For more information on Bill C-6, the proposed Canada Consumer Product Safety Act , please visit the Health Canada website.

Source
Health Canada

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