Greens Call for Passage of Canada Consumer Product Safety Act

OTTAWA--The Green Party has examined the issues around C-6 (Canada Consumer Product Safety Act) and urges the Senate to pass the Bill so that the safety of Canadians can be better protected.

“Canadians want better protection of their health, and current regulations based on weak inspection powers and voluntary recalls simply aren’t enough,” said Green Party Health Care critic Dr. Georgina Wilcock. “Difficulty getting access to potentially harmful products, combined with weak sentencing for violators, has meant that Health Canada could not keep up with the huge influx of new or imported goods,” she added. Current regulations make it difficult or impossible to order a business or individual to stop manufacturing, selling or advertising a product that poses a danger to Canadians.

The Green Party supports extending to Health Canada inspectors the same powers of inspection and seizure already in effect under the Explosives Act, the Fish Inspection and Fisheries Acts, and the Meat Inspection Act. “This act does create new powers for inspectors to enter or cross private property in order to carry out inspections,” Green Party leader Elizabeth May noted, “so we would like to see proper monitoring and controls for the use of these powers.” Contrary to some claims, the bill does NOT allow inspectors to enter private homes without a warrant.

May noted that many environmental organizations, such as Environmental Defence, the Canadian Environmental Law Association, and the David Suzuki Foundation are in support of this act. Many respected safety groups have also spoken in favour, including the Canadian Pediatric Society, Safe Kids Canada, and the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs. Major consumer and labour groups have added their support, as well.

“This bill has been written specifically to exclude foods and natural health products, so concerns that it will negatively impact those areas are misplaced,” May stated. “The Green Party continues to support the ability of individuals to access natural health products, and of local farmers to produce using safe, organic methods rather than industrial agriculture,” she concluded.

-30-

Contact:
Debra Eindiguer
Press Secretary
C: 613.240.8921
media@greenparty.ca
www.greenparty.ca