While you were busy writing letters and sending postcards to educate our MPs, Shawn Buckley was busy drafting a new Private Member’s Bill to repeal sections 500-504 of Bill C-47.
A Private Member’s Bill is a Bill that can be introduced by any Member of Parliament that is not a Member of the Cabinet. After a Bill is introduced to Parliament, the Bill will be debated and voted on by other Members of Parliament, becoming law if it garners sufficient support. This Bill is a draft law.
The Bill aims to repeal Sections 500-504 of the Budget Implementation Act, 2023, No. 1 (formerly Bill C-47). As you may know, these sections, embedded within the annual budget bill, redefine natural health products and subject the entire industry to heightened regulation and excessive fines up to $5,000,000 per day, by moving them fully into the therapeutic products category, alongside chemical drugs.
After consultation with Shawn Buckley, on Tuesday December 5, 2023, MP Blaine Calkins of Red Deer—Lacombe, Alberta, took a decisive stand in support of our cause and officially tabled a Private Member’s Bill to repeal sections 500-504 of Bill C-47 in the House of Commons. The Bill was seconded by MP Brad Vis, and given the official Bill number C-368.
This action by MPs Calkins and Vis effectively amplifies our voices, champions the cause for the natural health industry, and acts in the interests of every Canadian citizen that relies on natural health products to care for their health and well-being.
Check out our 1.5 minute video of the introduction of the Bill in the House of Commons.
Our journey to protect natural health products in Canada has reached an exciting juncture. An e-petition was registered with the House of Commons, echoing the NHPPA’s e-petition and championing the same vital cause—supporting Bill C-368.
Signing the registered e-petition is not just a signature; it’s a declaration of our collective determination to maintain our health freedoms and access to natural health products. Your voice is powerful—and you can now make it heard by signing the registered e-petition.
We passed an exciting milestone! We’ve already made waves with over 300,000 electronic letters supporting Bill C-368 sent to our MPs! The sheer volume of correspondence sent shows the incredible power we hold when we unite for our health and the freedom to choose how we care for it.
Our actions are an unmistakable statement that we stand together to protect access to natural health products in Canada.
Sending an electronic letter to Members of Parliament takes less than a minute, but it could make a lifetime of difference. Ensure your voice is heard loud and clear in the halls of power.
Act now, by sending an electronic letter in support of Bill C-368, and be a part of shaping a healthier future for all Canadians.
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 the new regulatory framework, warning it would lead to fewer products at higher prices and disproportionately harm women.
Catch the highlights in our 5-minute video that explores key moments from Bill C-368’s second reading and how it affects the natural health sector.
The second of two hours of debate as part of the second reading of Bill C-368 will be followed by a vote. This is now expected to take place in late May 2024!
In the short time we have left until the vote, keep sending your Members of Parliament electronic letters in support of Bill C-368.
Sign our e-petition to support bill C-368. You will be redirected to send an electronic letter.
Send an electronic letter to your MP and others in support of Bill C-368
Choose the letter that resonates most with you… or you can send multiple letters!
Print a copy of the draft Private Member’s Bill linked below. This resources will be incredibly helpful for your MP to understand exactly what you’re asking them to do, on your behalf.
We have provided form letters below.
However, if you have the capacity to write your own letter, in your own words, we strongly encourage you to do so. Personalized letters hold much more weight with our MPs.
We suggest stapling your letter to the draft Private Member’s Bill. This ensures that your MP receives both your letter and the draft Private Member’s Bill the letter references in one package.
It is important to send a letter to your MP at both their House of Commons address and their Constituency Office. You can find their Constituency Office here:
House of Commons Current Members of Parliament.
You don’t have to stop at sending letters to your Member of Parliament. You can also mail your letter to the Prime Minister, the Minister of Health, the Standing Committee on Health, or even all 338 MPs, if you’re willing.
Bill C-368
English and French
PDF Download
Draft Private Member’s Bill with Notes
PDF Download
MP Letter Supporting Bill C-368, Option 1
PDF Download
Bill C-368
English and French
PDF Download
Draft Private Member’s Bill with Notes
PDF Download
MP Letter Supporting Bill C-368, Option 1
PDF Download