UPDATE on Bill 393 - New Sponsor!

VICTORY: BILL C-393 WILL PROCEED TO A VOTE IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS
(via OXFAM and the Canadian HIV Legal Network)
"Bill C-393 - life-saving legislation to reform Canada’s broken Access to Medicines Regime (CAMR) - has today overcome a procedural hurdle and will move on to a final vote in the House of Commons. The bill received the unanimous consent of the House required to transfer its sponsorship to a sitting MP, thereby enabling it to continue through the democratic process in Parliament.

 We thank MP Paul Dewar (NDP, Ottawa Centre) for becoming the new sponsor of the bill. We also thank MP Brian Masse (NDP, Windsor West) and NDP House Leader Libby Davies (Vancouver East) for their efforts in championing the bill. We thank the New Democratic Party, the Liberal Party, and the Bloc Québécois for following through on their previously stated commitment to consent to transferring sponsorship of Bill C-393.

We would also like to thank the members of these parties who rose to speak in support of Bill C-393 this past Monday, January 31, during the bill’s first hour of debate. Thank you for recognizing the rare opportunity before you to make meaningful change and to save lives now. We commend Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Conservative Party for agreeing to the request for a new sponsor and allowing Bill C-393 to proceed to a final vote in the House of Commons, in keeping with the strong spirit of Canadian democracy.

Bill C-393 has the power and potential to save lives in the developing world — and would most definitely contribute to the government’s stated goal of reducing maternal and child mortality. Bill C-393 also enjoys widespread public support, as demonstrated repeatedly to Parliamentarians. A national poll found that more than 80% of Canadians support reforming CAMR to make it workable and to ensure that generic drugs can quickly and affordably be sent to those most in need. Canadians also support our democratic process, as evidenced by the outpouring of support for the swift transfer of sponsorship of Bill C-393. Indeed, more than 3000 Canadians sent letters to this effect".