Ah, The Enlightened Liberals
A consumer product safety bill, a full year in the processing toward ratification by the House and the Senate, is stalled in the 'chamber of sober second thought' while noble senators mull on the hardships in store for manufacturers having to produce safe and reliable products, happy to bypass the consumers' right to trust goods manufactured within Canada.
This bill has received unanimous support in the House of Commons. In the Senate of the Upper Chamber, it has stalled, thanks to the vigorous nay-saying of Liberal Senators.
Passing this legislation is long-overdue in amending and up-dating inadequate 40-year-old consumer protection legislation. It would produce reliable legislation protecting Canadian consumers, reflecting like safety-consumer legislation in the European Union and the United States.
The amendments have the full and enthusiastic support of the Canadian Medical Association, the Standards Council of Canada, the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs and other institutions concerned with the safety of the public, and specifically children.
Liberal senators, however, because they still have a majority in the Senate, insist on their privilege. Of preventing legislation that would make Canada resemble a 'police state'. There are 45 Liberal senators insistent on amending the proposed legislation, to bring it in agreement with a lobby group, the Canadian Coalition for Health Freedom.
'Freedom' as in giving free reign to manufacturers to produce shoddy and dangerous products. The very name of the lobby group calls to mind George Orwell's double-speak. The consuming public, in their view, should be free to unknowingly, trustingly, purchase goods that may be inimical to their health.
The senators opposed to the new legislation insist there is a need to curtail the power of Health Canada inspectors in their random safety checks at the facilities of manufacturers and distributors of consumer goods, lest they fine these entities for violating Canada's safety standards.
The health and safety of the Canadian consumer being at risk is obviously not their concern; the support of their very particular version of civil liberties clearly is. The legislation would impact on the 'civil liberties' of producers - and buyer beware.
This bill has received unanimous support in the House of Commons. In the Senate of the Upper Chamber, it has stalled, thanks to the vigorous nay-saying of Liberal Senators.
Passing this legislation is long-overdue in amending and up-dating inadequate 40-year-old consumer protection legislation. It would produce reliable legislation protecting Canadian consumers, reflecting like safety-consumer legislation in the European Union and the United States.
The amendments have the full and enthusiastic support of the Canadian Medical Association, the Standards Council of Canada, the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs and other institutions concerned with the safety of the public, and specifically children.
Liberal senators, however, because they still have a majority in the Senate, insist on their privilege. Of preventing legislation that would make Canada resemble a 'police state'. There are 45 Liberal senators insistent on amending the proposed legislation, to bring it in agreement with a lobby group, the Canadian Coalition for Health Freedom.
'Freedom' as in giving free reign to manufacturers to produce shoddy and dangerous products. The very name of the lobby group calls to mind George Orwell's double-speak. The consuming public, in their view, should be free to unknowingly, trustingly, purchase goods that may be inimical to their health.
The senators opposed to the new legislation insist there is a need to curtail the power of Health Canada inspectors in their random safety checks at the facilities of manufacturers and distributors of consumer goods, lest they fine these entities for violating Canada's safety standards.
The health and safety of the Canadian consumer being at risk is obviously not their concern; the support of their very particular version of civil liberties clearly is. The legislation would impact on the 'civil liberties' of producers - and buyer beware.
Labels: Government of Canada, Health, Values
posted by Pieface | 5:52 PM
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