Dec. 11 – Canada: Senate skips Bill C-6 amendments and votes as is
From The Montreal Gazette:
The Senate on Wednesday narrowly voted down sweeping Liberal amendments to weaken the government’s product-safety law — paving the way for a new consumer-protection law to be in place in Canada before Christmas.
Joseph Day, the Liberal critic for the consumer-protection bill in the Senate, put forward the provisions to fix what he says is an imbalance in the bill that allows Health Canada inspectors to abuse their power or harass toy manufacturers or other importers. “There is nothing to protect the company,” Day pleaded before the vote in the Senate.
With the amendments now dead, the legislation could become law before Christmas, following a final vote in the Senate scheduled for Thursday.
“I am very pleased that senators voted against Liberal amendments to our government’s Consumer Product Safety Act,” said Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq. “This is a significant step towards replacing 40-year-old legislation that limits the ability of our government to ensure products sold in Canada are safe. Liberal senators initially proposed changes that would have weakened Bill C-6, putting the health and safety of Canadian families in risk,” Aglukkaq said after the vote.
We will keep you informed if any regulatory changes result.
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