Bill C-368 Second Reading: First Hour of Debate

Bill C-368 has the potential to profoundly impact Canada's natural health product industry and your access to these products.

The bill's second reading in the House of Commons began on April 29, 2024, with the first of two one-hour-long debates on the bill's merit. MPs from the Conservative, NDP, and Bloc Québécois parties all expressed strong support. They emphasized the importance of preserving the $3 billion industry, which employs 54,000 Canadians and generates $150 million in GST revenue annually. MPs also criticized Health Canada's new regulatory framework, warning it would lead to fewer products at higher prices and disproportionately harm women.

The second reading process isn't over, and there's more work to do! We urge you to stay engaged and advocate for Bill C-368's progress by contacting your MP.
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🚨 A Summary of the Attack on Canada's Natural Health Industry:
➡️ Last year, Health Canada slipped substantial revisions into the 2023 Budget Bill, called Bill C-47. We are supporting Bill C-368, introduced by MP Blaine Calkins, to REMOVE sections 500-504 of Bill C-47.
➡️ These sections recategorize natural health products as "therapeutic products", subjecting them to the heightened regulations, fees, and fines designed for over-the-counter pharmaceutical drugs. This change is expected to devastate the natural health industry, resulting in the loss of products, less innovative products, rising costs, and reduced access to natural health practitioners.
➡️ We must engage with our MPs and encourage them to support Bill C-368 with a positive vote as it moves through Second Reading.

Important Links:
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Donate to NHPPA: https://nhppa.org/donate
Volunteer with NHPPA: https://nhppa.org/volunteer
Learn more and support Bill C-368: https://nhppa.org/bill-c368/
The Charter of Health Freedom: https://charterofhealthfreedom.org
Order or print your NHPPA postcards: https://nhppa.org/postcards/
Take action with NHPPA campaigns: https://nhppa.org/take-action/
Natural Health Products Crisis Summary: https://nhppa.org/crisis-summary/
Discussion Paper on 2023 Health Canada Initiatives: https://nhppa.org/discussion-paper-health-canada-initiatives/
Discussion Paper on 2024 Health Canada Initiatives: https://nhppa.org/discussion-paper-alarm-bells-in-health-policy/