Heads up--Canadian health activists (and helpful concerned folk elsewhere)

May 2, 2005

Please excuse my lack of exactness here----it was late and I just caught this from the corner of my ear....

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Last night around 2 in the morning (you know---where they stick the news they don't REALLY want you to hear--and it's only aired the one time) on CBC Radio I caught a very short report about a 6 week study commissioned by some arm of Health Canada? (didn't catch the name). This study concluded that the tests they have done on health supplements and other health products (sorry--I can't recall the exact wording) do not bear out the claims made for them. Their sources were from supermarkets, pharmacies AND health stores.

I haven't been able to find any other mention in the news about this study, but it seems to be suspiciously timed with Bill C420 that as far as I know is still in Committee--to be brought back for a third and final reading at some point. I've been trying to find out more about the timing here but I've had no reply from anyone I asked so far. If anyone knows what stage we are at and when we might expect the Committee to be finished with their findings please let me know?

In the meantime I think we had better get a concerted effort going here---this news report does not bode well for the future of alternative health products in Canada.

Here are some links to news and action we can take.

http://taxtyranny.ca/images/HTML/BillC-240/

New Proposed Health Freedom Legislation

UPDATED ON April 20, 2005Friends of Freedom Summer 2004 Health Freedom Update Newspaper - Election 2004

BILL C-420

NEW: About the Federal Private Member’s Health Freedom Bill C-420 ... Brief in support of Bill C 420 Ongoing problems with Bill C-420 Herbal supplements bill hard to swallow for critics

Bill C-420 Must Be Passed As Written - Join FOF Why Bill C-420 Saves Our Supplements & More C-420 transcipt from Wed. debate Thurs, March 10, 05 - Lunney’s Natural Health Product Initiative Goes to Committee March 20, 2003 - An Act to Amend the food & Drugs Act. C-420 Update About Our Private Member’s Health Freedom Bill C-420 About Our Private Member’s Health Freedom Bill C-420 Health Freedom Bill C-420 Is Back In The Canadian Parliament

PARLIMENTRY DEBATES ON BILL C-420 (HANSARDS)

Nov 29, 2004 -EDITED HANSARD Thursday, October 21, 2004 October 3, 2003, Voting Results October 3, 2003, Hansard June 2, 2003 March 20, 2003 April 30, 2003 April 09, 2003

DR. JAMES LUNNEY PRESS RELEASES AND CORRESPONDENCE

NEW: Dr. Lunney's press release regarding his presentation on C-420 Bill C-420 yesterday - there is something wrong with the way... Natural Health Products Bill Goes to Committee

Lunney’s Bill: Big Victory - Bill Goes to Committee

Natural Health Products at Risk James Lunney, MP Bio

GRASSROOTS SUPPORT INFORMATION TO HELP PASS BILL

PETITION For Health Freedom MP Support Letter Dear Health Store / Practitioner

E-action Letters

Communicate with lawmakers. Send your E-action letter today! (located at top of the webpage).

FEDERAL STANDING COMMITTEE ON HEALTH MEMBERS

Bonnie Brown Réal Ménard Rob Merrifield Colin Carrie Brenda Chamberlain Jean Crowder Nicole Demers Ruby Dhalla Steven John Fletcher James Lunney Michael John Savage Robert Thibault