The Coalition Against Bill C-51

We represent Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners, TCM educators, TCM merchants and stakeholders, and the public, and have formed a Coalition against Bill C-51. We believe that our duty is to ensure public health, health freedom and consumer right, and to recognize the traditional culture and needs of multicultural communities.

We are against any system that is oppressive and unjust in its regulations, where TCM is mistrusted, unfairly treated, or disrespected. TCM finds no place in this Bill and is categorized under drugs where natural health products (NHP), TCM, and Chinese herbal remedies (CHR) would be considered as being potentially hazardous, and where the long-proven contribution of TCM/CHR to human health would be ignored.

We are against Bill C-51 because the currently used control system, which was implemented in January 2004 after years of consultation, provides adequate protection to public health and consumers for NHP, TCM and CHR.

We are against Bill C-51 for putting NHP and TCM/CHR into the same category as pharmaceutical drugs.

We are against Bill C-51 because it could subject NHP and TCM/CHR to clinical trial.

We are against Bill C-51 because it changes the definition of “selling,” to include the providing of therapeutic products by individuals to friends, parents, or children, who may then be subjected to prosecution.

We are against Bill C-51 because many of the TCM/CHR products that are in the market could become illegal.

We are against Bill C-51 because it gives unchecked authority to the government to allow its agents to:

enter private property without a warrant (Section 23(4))

store property indefinitely without paying for damages, and shipping and storage fees are at owner's expense (Section 23(2)(d)) (Section 23.3(a)(b))

disclose personal and confidential business information without notifying the owner (Section 20.9) (Section 21.2)

charge fines of up to $5,000,000 or 2 years in jail or both (Section 31.1)

based on opinion, approve or disapprove market authorization and clinical trial authorization; recall products; seize and detain for any time anything connected to the Act and Regulations; or remove or destroy property at the expense of the owner. . .(Section 18.5(2)) (Section 19.6(2)) (Section 23(3)(a)(b)(c)) (Section 24(1))

We are against Bill C-51 because it violates the civil rights of TCM practitioners and merchants, and the Bill removes the right to dispute such cases in court.

We are against Bill C-51 because it reflects a government hostility towards NHP, TCM, and CHR.? The police, for example, are required to obtain a court warrant to search for marijuana or cocaine, but if Bill C-51 is passed, the government will be able to search the property of a TCM practitioner or merchant without a search warrant.

Although the Health Minister may claim that Bill C-51 does not specifically target NHP, TCM, or CHR, the wording used in the Bill clearly paints a different picture.

In its present form, Bill C-51 is unacceptable and demonizing. We can only accept legislation that is respectful of NHP, TCM, and CHR, and suggest that they be categorized as they were, and included as a separate category as food and drugs.

A Coalition Against Bill C-51 29.05.2008