- Bill C-6 Consumer Product Safety Act was introduced by
Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq in the House of Commons on
January 26, 2009.
- The House of Commons passed Bill C-6 on June 12, 2009.
- On June 16, 2009, Bill C-6 was introduced at 1st
Reading in the Senate.
- On October 7, 2009 at 2nd Reading, Bill C-6 was
referred to the Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and
Technology for further examination, after more Senate debates
than anticipated, and a massive public lobby effort confirmed
Canadians would not settle for the passing of this
unconstitutional bill.
- Senate Committee hearings helped the 12 Senators decide how
to work with a bill that saw their offices overwhelmed with
messages to accept speakers; namely Shawn Buckley. Very few
witnesses were heard. Most of them supported the bill. Shawn
Buckley was only one of a handful of witnesses that was invited
to speak who was in opposition to the bill. Again, his
presence in Ottawa was made possible by additional grassroots
pressure that won the attention of the Senate. On November 25,
2009, Senator McCoy even blogged "The long awaited Shawn Buckley
is here at the Senate Social Affairs Committee.......".
The Senators were open to hear how Bill C-6 set a dangerous
precedent.
- The Senate Committee moved through Bill C-6 in a clause by
clause review, voting on or making amendments to each section,
before presenting its 12th Report to the full Senate on December
3, 2009. This report outlined over 20 amendments to Bill C-6. On
December 9, 2009 all amendments were defeated 44-42 and 2
Abstentions. Although the amendments did not stick, this narrow
margin showed a division growing in the Senate. Owed, to a large
degree, by the cumulative actions of freedom groups
across the country.
- Two new amendments were tabled on December 10, 2009.
Senator George J. Furey and Senator Tommy Banks put amendments
forward for the Senate to consider. These amendments targeted
two issues - home-entry powers of inspectors and the disclosure
of personal information and defence by reason of due diligence
[meaning privacy of individuals and businesses]. They were
debated and voted on. Bill C-6 passed on December 15, 2009 with
two amendments.
- On Dec 11, 2009, Bill C-6 went back to the House of Commons.
Members of Parliament are on break until January 25, 2010. There
will be no movement with the bill, unless of course, Parliament
prorogues. This is a real possibility with the Prime Minister
needing to deflect some difficult criticism, that in part, is
due to issues raised in Bill C-6. If Parliament prorogues then
all government bills die on the order table.
- If Parliament continues, the House of Commons has several
options: (1) to pass the Senate’s amendments; (2) to amend or
reject the amendments; or (3) reject one of the amendments and
concur in or amend the other. If the House of Commons accepts
the Senate’s amendments then Bill C-6 will be given Royal
Assent. And it would become law.
If the House of
Commons decides on one of the latter, then it informs the Senate
by way of a message. The Senate may reconsider its amendments
and then has three options: (1) to accept the decision of the
House of Commons; (2) to reject the decision and maintain its
amendments; or (3) to further amend what the House of Commons
has put forward for consideration.
There is a fourth and most interesting option, and that is to
have the House "float" or "leave" Bill C-6, which means it does
nothing with the Senate’s amendments and allows the bill to die
on the Order Paper.
- The House of Commons needs to allow Bill C-6 to die on the
Order Paper. CLICK
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CLICK HERE
to watch Shawn’s 2 hour appearance before the Senate Committee
on November 25, 2009.
CLICK HERE
to learn more about
NHPPA Board Member John Biggs’ grassroots initiative – Suspend
and Review the NHP Regulations.
CLICK HERE to read the NHPPA’s
position statement on Health Canada’s "no fixed end date for
the compliance and enforcement" announcement.
In Health Freedom,
The Charter Team
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