There are at least three more quotes we want to share from Brett Hawes’ podcast interview with Shawn Buckley. They are just too good to miss. The subject of intellectual property rights is one that flows through all areas of government policy development. In the case of chemical drugs, the intellectual property rights a pharmaceutical company owns over their drug product are prioritized over healing potential. Intellectual property laws protect drug companies from others copying their patented formula. This allows them to recoup research costs. The patent period creates a monopoly for each individual new drug. That then secures profitability by eliminating competition and justifying astronomical prices to consumers in the name of scientific innovation.
Natural health products (NHPs) do not have the benefit of intellectual property rights since naturally-occurring components are not proprietary. Formulas are very easily reproduced by competitors. An NHP manufacturer cannot put a patent on garlic, for example, no matter how powerful its healing effects may be. NHPs, therefore, cannot secure the kind of revenue seen by pharmaceutical companies—even if the health outcomes are better.
Write to one (or all) of the Health Canada bureaucrats. Tell them a solution to protect against constant government encroachment into personal health choices is needed. Public health outcomes must be prioritized over drug companies’ profits.
THE END OF NATURAL HEALTH PRODUCTS? HOLISTIC HEALTH MASTERCLASS EPISODE #052
ACCESS THE BUREAUCRATS’ CONTACT INFORMATION
The current approach to the regulation of NHPs was arrived at only after considerable consultation by the Committee and extensive input of experts (both within and outside of Health Canada). This process has taken roughly 22 years. Arguably we have the best regulatory regime of NHPs in the world due solely to the expertise and time that has been invested. We are now throwing this away on the advice of a handful of non-experts.
On May 12, 2016, four Health Canada employees met with the Health Minister Jane Philpott for 45 minutes. At the end of the meeting the Minister confirmed her support for the self-care framework.
The four Health Canada employees were:
1. Simon Kennedy;
2. Paul Glover;
3. Anil Arora; and
4. Pierre Sabourin.
These are the four people responsible for developing the self-care framework that threatens Canadians’ health freedom. These are the four people you can contact to speak out about how you feel about these changes.
Simon Kennedy – is the Deputy Minister of Health Canada. He was appointed in 2015. Prior to that he was the Deputy Minister of International Trade. While Deputy Minister of International Trade the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement was negotiated. Attached as Appendix 2 is his biography published by Health Canada. It appears that Mr. Kennedy is not an expert in NHPs or the regulation of NHPs. Mr. Kennedy was with Health Canada for 17 months prior to the May 12, 2016 meeting with the Minister.
simon.kennedy@hc-sc.gc.ca
613-957-0212
Simon Kennedy, Deputy Minister
c/o Health Canada
PO Box 0900C2
Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9
Paul Glover – was the Associate Deputy Minister of Health Canada at the time of the May 12, 2016 meeting. He is currently head of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Mr. Glover has been in several roles within Health Canada. Attached as Appendix 3 is his biography published by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. He has a master in business administration (MBA). It is unknown to the author whether Mr. Glover is an expert in NHPs or the regulation of NHPs, although it appears unlikely.
Paul.Glover@canada.ca
613-670-1777
Paul Glover, President
c/o Shared Services Canada
99 Metcalfe Street
Ottawa, ON
K0A 0C3
Anil Arora – has been the Chief Statistician of Canada since September 2016. He has worked for the United Nations and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. He has worked in several Federal Government Ministries. He briefly joined Health Canada in 2014 as the Assistant Deputy Minister of Health Products and Food Branch. A copy of his government biography is attached as Appendix 4. It appears that Mr. Arora is not an expert in NHPs or the regulation of NHPs. Mr. Arora briefly joined Health Canada well after the detailed process outlined above to arrive at our current regulatory regime for NHPs. He left shortly after the May 12, 2016 meeting with the Minister where the new framework was approved.
anil.arora@canada.ca
613-951-9757
Anil Arora, Chief Statistician
c/o Statistics Canada
100 Tunney’s Pasture Driveway
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0T6
Pierre Sabourin – is currently the Assistant Deputy Minister of Health Canada’s Health Products and Food Branch. He joined Health Canada in this position in March 2016, within two months of the May 12, 2016 meeting with the Health Minister that has led to the proposed changes. Prior to joining Health Canada, Mr. Sabourin was at the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, the Canada Border Services Agency and Foreign Affairs and International Trade. A copy of his LinkedIn Profile is attached as Appendix 5. It would appear that Mr. Sabourin has no expertise in NHPs.
pierre.sabourin@hc-sc.gc.ca (presumed)
613-957-1804
For more information and resources to add to the content of your letter, please see the NHPPA Action Kits.
