Advocate to repeal Division 31 from Bill C-69 now that it has become law!
The 2024 Budget Bill (Bill C-69) included amendments that grant Health Canada unprecedented regulatory authority over off-label uses of drugs and natural health products—significantly affecting medical professionals’ and natural health practitioners’ ability to provide effective healthcare, and our ability as members of the public to access these vital treatment options.
Now that these changes have become law, it's crucial to act now to repeal Division 31 of Bill C-69.
Under Division 31 of Bill C-69, Health Canada gains the power to:
- Restrict off-label use of drugs, including natural health products, by medical doctors, health care professionals, natural health practitioners, and even veterinarians.
- Grant exemptions for food and drugs from crucial safety regulations designed to protect against fraud, adulteration, and unsanitary conditions.
- Allow exemptions for food and drugs from safety laws based on selective "parts" of foreign documents.
Just like in 2023, Health Canada slipped these substantial revisions to the Food and Drugs Act into a Budget Bill, bypassing scrutiny from the Standing Committee on Health. Instead, this Budget Bill was reviewed by the Standing Committee on Finance, who lack expertise in matters of Food and Drug law and human health.
Send a letter and make it clear to your MP—it is unacceptable for non-budgetary changes to be buried within budget bills, especially when it affects the health of every Canadian, and we expect Division 31 of Bill C-69 to be repealed!
Advocate to repeal Division 31 from Bill C-69 now that it has become law!
The 2024 Budget Bill (Bill C-69) included amendments that grant Health Canada unprecedented regulatory authority over off-label uses of drugs and natural health products—significantly affecting medical professionals’ and natural health practitioners’ ability to provide effective healthcare, and our ability as members of the public to access these vital treatment options.
Now that these changes have become law, it's crucial to act now to repeal Division 31 of Bill C-69.
Under Division 31 of Bill C-69, Health Canada gains the power to:
- Restrict off-label use of drugs, including natural health products, by medical doctors, health care professionals, natural health practitioners, and even veterinarians.
- Grant exemptions for food and drugs from crucial safety regulations designed to protect against fraud, adulteration, and unsanitary conditions.
- Allow exemptions for food and drugs from safety laws based on selective "parts" of foreign documents.
Just like in 2023, Health Canada slipped these substantial revisions to the Food and Drugs Act into a Budget Bill, bypassing scrutiny from the Standing Committee on Health. Instead, this Budget Bill was reviewed by the Standing Committee on Finance, who lack expertise in matters of Food and Drug law and human health.
Send a letter and make it clear to your MP—it is unacceptable for non-budgetary changes to be buried within budget bills, especially when it affects the health of every Canadian, and we expect Division 31 of Bill C-69 to be repealed!