News

Rob’s Column June 22, 2011

June 24th, 2011

The newly enacted Canada Consumer Product Safety Act gives our government more legislative power to protect Canadians.

A large number of children under ten years of age receive medical treatment each year due to injuries caused by consumer products in the home.  The CCPSA will enable our government to recall unreasonably dangerous products from store shelves in order to reduce this number. 

Industry members will be required to report to Health Canada if they become aware of any injury or death resulting from use of their product.  Our government will then be able to take appropriate action in each case. 

Our government will now have the ability to prohibit the importation or advertisement of any consumer product deemed to endanger consumer health.  We will also have the ability to demand that manufacturers or importers provide safety test results on any product we feel requires investigation. 

The act makes it much easier to prosecute those making false health or safety claims in packaging or advertising.  Companies will also be required to retain documentation in order to enable our government to trace and recall any dangerous products.

 The maximum fine for non-compliance has been raised from one million dollars to five million dollars, providing a more just punishment for those who would flaunt our country’s safety standards. 

To encourage Canadians to quit smoking, our government has proposed new regulations in the labeling of cigarettes and little cigars.  The warning messages, highlighting a new set of tobacco-related diseases, would cover 75% of the front and back packaging of these products and also feature a new pan-Canadian toll free quitline.  New regulations would also prevent the use of words such as “Light” and “Mild” in the packaging and marketing of cigarettes.  The use of such words provides an inaccurate picture of the nature of the product, implying a non-existent level of safety. 

Our government is also considering improving the Marihuana Access Program – which provides medical marihuana to those with specific ailments – in order to prevent abuse by those wishing to exploit the system.  At the same time we would streamline the process for those with a genuine medical need for the product, eliminating unnecessary paperwork. 

The safety of Canadian citizens is of paramount concern to our government, and we are taking concrete action to make our country a safer and better place to live. 

As always, I look forward to your letters, e-mails and calls.  Write me at: Rob Clarke MP, House of Commons, 502 Justice Building, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0A6.  I hope you will find time to visit my website http://www.robclarkemp.ca  To contact me via e-mail use  clarkr@parl.gc.ca or call my constituency office toll-free at 1-866-400-2334. 

Rob Clarke MP

Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River