Hi Johan,
It’s a winter wonderland out there today! I need to get the word out a temporary suspension in garbage and recycling collection (as per the write up below). If you’re able to help spread the word, that would be great! Thanks so much.
"Garbage and Recycling Collection"
"The City of
This message arrived Editor www.WhiteRockReporter.com with request for 'spread the world to all'...you too can let your neighbours know, please. Let it loose viral...
www.youtube.com/whiterockreporter
Sponsored by:
www.TourTalkFusion.com/1270808
Communications Officer
City of
White
604.541.2114
NHPPA ,November 22, 2010
The following media release was sent to all Canadian media outlets today, and we are sending it to you as well. Please pass it on.
HEALTH CANADA’S NEW POWERS PUT CANADIANS AT RISK OF TRESPASS AND RAIDS - WILL BE CHALLENGED IN COURT
CANADA --A federal bill purporting to make Canadians safer will actually make them less safe and - if passed -will likely face a barrage of constitutional challenges in the courts, according to a leading constitutional lawyer and a growing number of concerned citizens, health consumer groups and legislators.
Bill C-36: The Canada Consumer Product Safety Act gives Health Canada sweeping new powers, shifts control to bureaucrats, and puts Canadians at risk of trespass and raids by Health Canada--without requiring government officials to go through the courts. The bill has passed 3rd reading in the House of Commons and is now before the Senate.
Shawn Buckley, Kamloops-based constitutional lawyer and president of the Natural Health Products Protection Association (NHPPA), originally challenged earlier versions of Bill C-36 (Bills C-52 & 6) that died due to widespread opposition from health consumers and vendors of natural health products and/or when earlier parliamentary sessions were dissolved or prorogued. Responding to outrage from consumers and vendors of natural health products, the government and MPs from all parties backed off, specifically exempting natural health products in the latest version - Bill C-36.
In spite of the exemption, Buckley remains concerned that Bill C-36 is still a 'Trojan horse' that will ultimately pave the way for government to re-introduce the same sweeping provisions that by-pass the rule of law to apply to Canada's natural health industry, which has been under siege since natural health products (NHP's) were included under the Food & Drug Act in 2004. As a result of Natural Health Product regulations, thousands of products have become unavailable to consumers, restricting access to healthcare alternatives.
"Bill C-36 is sold to us as necessary for our safety," says Buckley, "but if I'm correct, this bill represents one of the most unsafe legal moves - certainly in my lifetime."
Senators Elaine McCoy (PC), Joseph Day (Lib), Celine Hervieux-Payette (Lib), George Furey (Lib) and Tommy Banks (Lib) - all lawyers - have expressed concern that the bill is a breach of civil liberties and will probably not stand up to what will likely be many court challenges, should it pass. Banks says “it is undoing 400 years of common law."
Fasken Martineau, one of the country's leading law firms, has also expressed concern about the impact of Bill C-36. Peter Pliszka, a partner with Fasken Martineau's Toronto office, says "Bill C-36 will introduce a revolutionary upheaval in product regulation in Canada", and says it goes against 140 years of Canadian history.
Buckley is giving a cross-country lecture tour--Freedom in Crisis---November 18 to December 7 to alert the public about the potential threat to rights and freedoms that Bill C-36 poses, as well as to the negative impact the Natural Health Product Regulations will have on NHP businesses and consumers as the regulations come into full force. Buckley will also be providing a guide for NHP businesses to help vendors understand their rights and protect their businesses in the event of a Health Canada raid.
The tour begins in Nelson BC, November 18, and will include Toronto, Moncton, Winnipeg, Penticton, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton.
The Natural Health Products Protection Association (NHPPA) is dedicated to protecting access to Natural Health Products and Dietary Supplements.
See tour schedule on www.nhppa.org. For more information or interview contact Julia Rickert at 416.906.6974 or email jrickert@nhppa.org
"BEAST SURVIVES, BUT LESS UNPLEASANT"
By Lee Bechtel, NHF Lobbyist
November 20, 2010
The NHF first wants to thank all of those who signed our petition in opposition to S.510, and those who called their U.S. Senator's offices in a sustained effort to defeat the legislation. Unfortunately, the vote to end debate“ the Cloture vote “ was successful on a vote of 74 For and 25 Opposed, on November 17th. 2010. Thirty hours of debate followed and included behind-the-scenes negotiations on a final Manager's Amendment to S.510.
On November 18th, the only Senator holding up the bill was Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK), who wanted a vote on an amendment dealing with Congressional earmarks.
During the debate, Senator Harkin described some of the key points in the yet-to-be-voted-on Manager's Amendment. Among other changes, the final Manager's Amendment included the exemption for dietary supplements from Codex food guidelines, exemption language for dietary supplement manufacturers and retailers from the conventional food company and distributor registration fees, reporting and product traceability requirements.
Then, on Friday, November 19th, Majority Leader Harry Reid announced that agreement had been reached on the order of final amendments and votes on S.510, which are now scheduled for Monday, November 29th, 2010. after the Thanksgiving recess.
There will be a second cloture vote on the motion to proceed, followed by debate and votes on two amendments to be offered by Senator Coburn.
As explained by Senator Harkin, he and Senators Reid and Durbin had worked out an agreement in advance of Senate passage with House Democratic leadership to accept the Senate-passed bill, hold it at the House desk, and then vote on passage of the Senate bill. This procedural maneuvering eliminates the usual joint Senate-House conference committee to work out differences with the Waxman and House passed Food Safety bill, H.R. 2749. If the House approves, the final version of the Senate Food Safety bill would then be sent to President Obama for signing into new law.
The NHF has been lobbying against S.510 and many thousands of health-freedom advocates have participated in sending grassroots lobbying appeals, since last year.
The new spending called for in the bill will have to be approved by Congress next year in the FDA-appropriation process, first by the House and then by the Senate. All spending bills must originate in the to be controlled Republican House.
NHF will keep you informed.
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National Health Federation: Established in 1955,
