Bill C-36, the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act, will modernize and strengthen Canada’s product safety legislation and provide new ways to effectively protect the health and safety of Canadians. There has been much speculation regarding the scope of this bill to the point that some have communicated to me that the bill is a bureaucratic plot to control production and sale of Natural Health Products.

This bill was proposed and passed in order for the Minister of Health to be able to regulate such things as levels of lead in paint used to produce children’s toys, and to prevent harmful chemicals from entering the food chain in products we purchase. Some have suggested Bill C-36 is very authoritarian. The truth is that for the past 40 years, Health Canada inspectors have had the authority to access businesses where consumer products are sold and the new legislation will permit inspectors to continue to have this authority. This type of authority is in other legislation where public good and safety is at risk. Public health inspectors are not required to have a warrant to access a restaurant as that would severely limit the efficacy of inspectors and compromise the safety of customers.

All government bills, including Bill C-36, are examined by the Department of Justice for consistency with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Canadian Bill of Rights.

I can assure you, there is no conspiracy.  Bill C-36 was debated in the House of Commons, sent to Committee for review, and then back to the House.  It was sent to the Senate for ‘sober second thought’ and once again went through due process.  These mechanisms are in place to promote your best interests and ensure the safety of all Canadians. 

If anyone approaches you with the government conspiracy argument, you need to ask yourself, “What are the motives of the person making such statements?”  Then remind yourself that you live in a democracy wherein your elected representatives are responsible for protecting your health and safety.

Colin Mayes, MP
Okanagan-Shuswap