Minister of Health Announces Upcoming Actions to Support the Health and Safety of Canadian Families

Government, parents and community members come together to discuss the safety of consumer products, drugs and food

April 16, 2013
For immediate release

Upcoming Actions to Support the Health and Safety of Canadian Families

OTTAWA - The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, hosted a meeting in Ottawa today with concerned parents and community members to outline action that will be taken by the Harper Government in the coming months to help support the health and safety of Canadian families. This follows from the Prime Minister's announcement in January that supporting families will be a priority for the Government.

"Canadians don't want government to raise their kids, but they do want government to take action to support the health and safety of their families," said Minister Aglukkaq.  "Over the coming months our government will be launching efforts to do just that in areas like food, drug and consumer product safety."

Minister Aglukkaq identified measures that will be taken related to consumer product safety, drug safety and food safety.

The Minister announced today new initiatives that will include:

• Moving towards more plain language on drug labels;
• Taking action on products that contain small, powerful magnets which threaten the safety of young children;
• Establishing a new research centre which will strengthen Canada's ability to pinpoint and stop food-borne illnesses;
• Improving the reporting of adverse drug reactions; and,
• Proposing enhanced safety standards for playpens sold in Canada.

"The Prime Minister has stated clearly that supporting Canadian families is a priority for our Government," said Minister Aglukkaq. "As Health Minister, and as a mother, I am proud to outline areas where our Government will take concrete action in the months ahead."

For more information on how the Government of Canada is working to protect the health and safety of Canadians, please visit the Healthy Canadians website.

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Media Enquiries:
Health Canada
(613) 957-2983

Cailin Rodgers
Office of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq
Federal Minister of Health
(613) 957-0200

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(613) 957-2991
1-866 225-0709