Safe Kids notes that Bill C6, An Act respecting the safety of consumer products, is at a critical stage in the Senate under the standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology, chaired by Senator Art Eggleton. See http://www.parl.gc.ca/common/CommitteeSenMembers.asp?Language=E&Parl=40&Ses=2&commid=47 (full list of committee members).

It says that industry and special interest groups have been actively lobbying the Senate to derail the Bill and are attempting to have major amendments that would remove Health Canada’s ability to perform mandatory testing and recall measures once a product is proven unsafe and potentially dangerous.

In order to counter industry efforts, Safe Kids Canada suggests partners write to the Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology at the following address, using the points below.

Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology
The Senate of Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada, K1A 0A4

Suggested points to cover in letter:

• Bill C6: An Act respecting the safety of consumer products would modernize the Hazardous Products Act which has not been updated since its introduction in 1969.
• It is crucial for the health and safety of the people of Canada, especially the most vulnerable, that this legislation be supported and passed as soon as possible.
• The proposed Act will introduce new safety legislation that suppliers will have to meet, and new tools for Health Canada to better protect the health and safety of Canadians. Passing of Bill C6 is important because of the need to: renew and modernize Canadian federal product safety legislation to make it illegal to supply consumer products that pose an unreasonable danger to human health or safety and better reflect the globalized marketplace; be consistent with societal and consumer expectations for the health and safety of Canadians and ensure the reporting of serious incidents and defects, leading or potentially leading to illnesses, injuries, and deaths - including near-misses; and close significant gaps in the current legislation to put Canada on par with our international partners and ensure that our country does not become a haven for unsafe products rejected by the American and European markets.  
• Injuries from the use of consumer products are common, frequently serious and sometimes fatal. Survey results have shown that the vast majority of Canadians believe that if a product is available for sale on the market, it is safe or has been tested for safety. However, this is not necessarily the case. Under the current Hazardous Product Act, Health Canada is unable to protect the health and safety of Canadians through effective enforcement measures like mandatory testing and mandatory recalls of dangerous products.