Canadian legislation

Help Us Fix Canada’s Access to Medicines Regime (CAMR)

URGENT ACTION NEEDED:

HELP US TO TAKE ACTION IN OCTOBER - Please act ASAP, ideally before October 23rd.

EMAIL FEDERAL PARTY LEADERS, THE PRIME MINISTER, AND LOCAL MPs
TO SUPPORT THE PASSAGE OF BILL C-393 IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS

WHY NOW?

NOW is a critical moment in our campaign to persuade our government to fix CAMR legislation. With CAMR fixed, Canada can keep its promise to provide a steady flow of lower-cost, live-saving medicines to Africa. Bill C-393 is our best hope for fixing CAMR.

On Friday, October 23rd, Bill C-393 will be debated at a 2nd-hour reading in the House of Commons. It is important that enough MPs pass the Bill on to a committee that can review the proposed reforms and hear from experts on this important issue. This vote is set to take place on Wednesday, October 28th. The NDP is supportive of Bill C-393. The Conservative Party has consistently maintained its position that it opposes the proposed reforms; so, we can anticipate that they will vote “NO” on passing the Bill after 2nd reading. A “YES” majority depends on convincing Liberal and Bloc MPs to support Bill C-393.

It is very important that we contact all Party Leaders, local MPs, and the Prime Minister, and urge them to support Bill C-393 and allow it to be reviewed by a committee.

WE NEED YOU.

The more people who take action at this time, and email Canada’s Federal Party Leaders and their local MPs, the better! We want to create a huge impact by flooding inboxes with requests for support of Bill C-393.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

There are 2 Actions we are asking you to take:

1. PLEASE email (or phone) your message of support to Federal Party Leaders, including the Prime Minister here: http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/6158/t/7421/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=2173. Cette lettre est disponsible en français ici: http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/6158/t/7421/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=2177

2. Email your local MP with the template email below. To find your local MP, go to: http://www2.parl.gc.ca/Parlinfo/Compilations/HouseOfCommons/MemberByPostalCode.aspx?Menu=HOC.

Enter your postal code to find the contact info for your local MP and then send them an email modeled on the one noted below.

Do this today!

BACKGROUND RESOURCES

1. Please visit www.aidslaw.ca/camr for more information on CAMR reform. You can view our short video entitled, “Dying for Drugs” which features the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network’s Executive Director, Richard Elliott, and UNICEF President, Nigel Fisher, speaking on the need for access to low-cost medicine in the developing world.

2. A CAMR 20 Questions & Answers document can be found at http://www.aidslaw.ca/publications/publicationsdocEN.php?ref=965. This is a great information resource and we encourage you to distribute this amongst your members, and to other concerned student groups on your campus. It addresses many of the opposition arguments to the proposed reforms in Bill C-393 in the House of Commons.

3. Contact Lindsey if you are looking for additional resources, and/or have specific questions. Information regarding each local MPs’ positions on Bill C-393 is available, so please ask!

Thank you for your support on this important campaign!

Sample Email for your local MP

Cette lettre est disponsible en français ci-dessous

English

(Date)

Dear Mr/Ms (surname), Member of Parliament, (local riding),

On September 16th a shipment of drugs left the Toronto airport bound for Rwanda. It has taken years of persistence and determination for Apotex to send this second part of a shipment of drugs to dying Africans.

In 2004, Canada responded to the urgent need for low-cost, life saving medicines by passing Canada’s Access to Medicines Regime (CAMR) with all party support. Unfortunately, CAMR is too flawed to be effective. The delivery of one order to one country by one generic drug company in five years cannot be termed successful. We Canadians have a responsibility to do better. And we can.
Bill C-393, which is designed to simplify the process with a one-license proposal, offers a solution in streamlining CAMR. Knowledgeable experts have answered every question raised about the amendment. There is no cost and it adheres to WTO, TRIPS and health regulations.

This is a humanitarian rather than a trade issue. The picture of children dying of AIDS before their second birthday is heart wrenching. We cannot bear this reality, knowing that Canada could provide the medicines necessary to keep these children and their parents alive.

Apotex Canada has indicated its willingness to develop a medicine primarily for children, one dose, easy to swallow. But their commitment is based on making CAMR more workable.

I ask that you acknowledge that in principle there is a problem with the current CAMR by supporting Bill C-393 at its 2nd reading. It is only fair that ideas about reforming it should not simply be dismissed outright. Instead, the details of the reforms should be considered by a committee that can hear from experts. You have the information regarding CAMR that you need; you have the potential to pass this bill. I urge you to hear the plea of Canadians joining the voices of those in developing nations who are holding their dying children. Please help. Support Bill C-393.

I look forward to your response to this letter and your indication that you will support this bill.

Sincerely,
(Name)
(Address)
(Telephone and email address)

Français

(Date)

Cher/Chère M./Mme. (nom), Membre du Parlement, (circonscription électorale),

Le 16 septembre, une cargaison de médicaments a quitté l’aéroport de Toronto en destination du Rwanda. Apotex a investi des années de travail acharné pour envoyer cette deuxième partie d’une livraison de médicaments à des Africains mourants.

En 2004, le Canada a répondu au besoin urgent de médicaments à faible coût et d’importance vitale en adoptant le Régime canadien d’accès aux médicaments (RCAM), avec le soutien de tous les partis. Malheureusement, le RCAM est trop défectueux pour être efficace. On ne peut qualifier de réussite un programme qui a mené à la livraison, en une période de cinq ans, d’une seule commande à un seul pays par une seule compagnie de médicaments génériques. Le Canada a la responsabilité de mieux faire. Et nous en sommes capables.

Le projet de loi C 393 est conçu pour simplifier le processus du RCAM au moyen d’une solution à licence unique. Des spécialistes ont répondu à toutes les questions soulevées par cette rectification. La réforme ne coûte rien et est conforme aux lois de l’Organisation mondiale du commerce et de l’Accord sur les ADPIC et au règlement en matière de santé.

Il s’agit là d’une question humanitaire et non commerciale. L’idée d’enfants qui meurent du sida avant leur deuxième anniversaire crève le cœur. Nous ne pouvons permettre cela en sachant que le Canada a les moyens de fournir les médicaments nécessaires pour garder ces enfants et leurs parents en vie.

Apotex Canada a exprimé le souhait de produire un médicament à dose unique et facile à avaler à l’intention des enfants principalement. Mais elle ne conservera son engagement que si le RCAM est rendu plus utilisable.

Les idées liées à la réforme du RCAM méritent mieux que d’être simplement écartées. Au contraire, les détails des changements proposés devraient être examinés par un comité dont le travail sera éclairé par des spécialistes. Je vous demande de reconnaître en principe que le RCAM sous sa forme actuelle est inefficace. Demandez aux membres de votre parti d’appuyer le projet de loi C 393 afin de lui permettre d’être soumis à un comité qui l’étudiera minutieusement.

Vous avez tous les renseignements sur le RCAM dont vous avez besoin. En tant que chef de votre parti, vous avez la capacité de mener vos membres dans la bonne direction. Je vous encourage vivement à entendre l’appel des Canadiens et Canadiennes qui joignent leurs voix à celles des personnes dans les pays en développement qui tiennent leurs enfants mourants dans leurs bras. Je vous demande d’aider. Appuyez le projet de loi C 393.

J’attends avec enthousiasme votre réponse à cette lettre et votre marque de soutien – la vôtre et celle de votre parti – envers ce projet de loi.

Je vous prie d’agréer, Messieurs, l’expression de mes meilleurs sentiments.

(Nom)
(Adresse)
(Téléphone adresse courriel)