Minister of Health Discusses Product Safety Concerns with Consumer Advocacy Groups

News Release
2010-98
June 10, 2010
For immediate release

Backgrounder: Key Elements of the Proposed Canada Consumer Product Safety Act

VANCOUVER- One day after announcing the reintroduction of Bill C-36, the proposed Canada Consumer Product Safety Act, the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, hosted a meeting in Vancouver with representatives from a number of groups concerned about product safety.

"What we have heard today is that Canadians need to be confident about the products they buy. Beyond that, people want to know that their government can take action to help protect them from dangerous products on the market," said Minister Aglukkaq. "Yesterday our government announced the reintroduction of the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act.  This proposed Act would modernize and strengthen Canada's product safety legislation and provide new ways to quickly and effectively protect the health and safety of Canadians."

"Injuries are the leading cause of death for children and youth, and consumer product-related injuries represent 46% of the total," said Dr. Mariana Brussoni, assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of British Columbia, and chair of the Safe Kids Canada National Expert Advisory. "We need to reduce the number of injuries and the new Bill would play a significant part in the strategy."

For more information on the proposed Canada Consumer Product Safety Act, please see the Health Canada news release.

For more information:

• To find out how parents and business owners are supportive of this proposed Act and for more information, please consult the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act website and video: www.health.gc.ca/ccpsa
• Follow Health Canada on Twitter for updates.

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Media Enquiries:
Health Canada
(613) 957-2983

Josée Bellemare
Office of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq
Federal Minister of Health
(613) 957-0200

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