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March 15, 2011
On Wednesday, March 9th, Members of Parliament made history by voting for legislation that has the potential to save thousands of lives. With the passage of Bill C-393, MPs approved a plan to reform Canada’s broken Access to Medicines Regime (CAMR) and ensure access to affordable, generic medicines for people dying of treatable diseases like AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis in developing countries.
The success of Bill C-393 has underscored everything that is good about our democracy. Consider that:
Logic and evidence prevailed over misinformation from a well-funded corporate lobby.
The bill overcame a cynical political ploy to squash it on a procedural technicality thanks to public support for the Let Parliament Vote campaign.
The final House of Commons vote had support from MPs from all parties.
But we have one more fight ahead, one more challenge to our democracy: The bill to reform CAMR now goes before the Senate where it will undoubtedly face a challenge by government-appointed Senators intent on blocking the will of the House of Commons – the people’s will.
We must not let this happen.
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