Opposition parties warn new natural health product regulations could drive up costs
CBC
Opposition parties want to hold parliamentary committee hearings to probe Health Canada's new natural health product regulations when the House of Commons gets back to work after its summer break, CBC News has learned.
The Conservative and NDP health critics both say their offices were swamped over the summer with messages from constituents worried the regulatory changes could lead to increased prices and fewer choices for consumers.
They say they want to summon Health Canada officials before the standing committee on health, which meets next when the House resumes on Sept. 18.
In a minority Parliament, opposition parties can control committee agendas.
Conservative MP Stephen Ellis, a medical doctor and the party's health critic, said he's received more emails from constituents on the new natural health product regulations than on any other issue, including the Liberal government's controversial firearms legislation, Bill C-21.
"When inflation is at an all-time high and access to health care is at an all-time low, I cannot accept this," said Ellis, MP for Cumberland—Colchester.
The issue could serve as a political weapon for the Conservatives and New Democrats, who are promising to lower the cost of living and are trying to blame the Liberals for the rising cost of pretty much everything.
Health Canada says most Canadians use natural health products on a daily basis.
The new regulations give Health Canada the ability to immediately recall a natural health product — anything from toothpaste to supplements — instead of waiting for up to six months. They also force producers to update their labelling to include more information about their products, such as whether they contain allergens.
The recall regulation took effect with passage of the omnibus Bill C-47 last June. It's an extension of the Protecting Canadians from Unsafe Drugs Act, also known as Vanessa's Law. The act was named after Vanessa Young, who died in 2000 at the age of 15 of a cardiac arrhythmia after taking a cisapride, a heartburn medication, as prescribed.
The labelling requirement came into force in July 2020 and companies were given six years to make the change.
But the most contentious regulatory change is still to come. Opposition MPs say it's the one driving most of the public backlash.
The planned change would force natural health producers to reimburse Health Canada for the cost of monitoring and approving their products before they hit the market.
Don Davies, NDP MP for Vancouver Kingsway, told CBC News he fears Health Canada is "missing the mark."