One more fight ahead as the bill now goes before the Senate where it will face a challenge by some government-appointed Senators intent on blocking passage of the bill.

Ottawa (11 Mar. 2011) - While supporters are applauding the Wednesday, March 9th, vote in Parliament for Bill C-393 to reform Canada's Access to Medicines Regime (CAMR), they are reminding the public that it is not yet over.

By passing Bill C-393, Members of Parliament (MPs) approved a plan to reform what most saw as a highly flawed CAMR.  The intention is to ensure access to affordable, generic medicines for people dying of treatable diseases like AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis in developing countries.

The success of the Bill is notable given what was a strong well-funded lobby by big pharma and efforts to squash it on procedural technicalities by some members of the Harper government. 

One prominent supporter of the bill was Juno award winning star and humanitarian activist K'naan.  

Positively, there was a groundswell of support resulting in MPs from all parties voting in favour of the Bill.

Yet, supporters are quick to remind people that there is one more fight ahead as the bill now goes before the Senate where it will undoubtedly face a challenge by some government-appointed Senators intent on blocking the will of the House of Commons.

NUPGE

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE 

More information:

• Final push for bill to help get generic drugs to developing countries [1]
• Let Democracy Win [2] (Urgent action site)
• Avaaz Medicine for all petition [3]