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Medicine for all dies with governmentBy Dominik Kurekcating for the passing of the bill.of undue politicking by thedisappointing and I really do questionOAKVILLE BEAVER STAFFCAMR was initially passed in 2004,Conservative Party and because of the government on its behaviour.however in the time since its passing,interference from Industry MinisterLeFrancois added it will be the littleLocal members of an Oakville-basedonly one order of one drug has beenTony Clement.children, those who do not live past thegrandmothers group, which supportsent to one country.Last week the New Democraticage of two, that will be the ultimatetheir counterparts in Africa, are disap-In 2007, an NDP MP presented aParty accused Clement of inappropri-casualties of the death of this bill.pointed with the fall of Canada's gov-private members bill, C-393 thatately using his influence to stall the billFor the bill to reappear it will haveernment and subsequently Bill C-393would simplify the legislation.in the Senate. The Toronto Star report-to go through the same steps it hasThe bill, which was passed earlierAccording to Green, Canadas largested a leaked note he sent out toalready gone through at the House of this month by the House of Commonsgeneric pharmaceutical manufacturerConservative senators.Commons.after seven years of legal battle, has diedhas made the commitment that, if The memo states: If C-393 isThis bill is a casualty of the erosionon the order paper with the SenateCAMR is simplified, it will produce apassed, Canadas CAMR will be out of as far as I can see of democracyafter the fall of government.lower-cost childrens version of a keystep with our international trade obli-in our parliament, Green said.Also known as Medicines For All,AIDS drug for export to developinggations. And if current patents areIts a bill that would not have costthe bill reforms Canadas Access tocountries.threatened, the patent holders willthe taxpayers any money and in fact, itMedicines Regime (CAMR) to betterThis bill meant so much to soleave Canada seeking shelter in coun-would have made Canadas foreign aidallow generic drug companies to pro-many people, especially in the thirdtries which value patent protection.dollars even more effective.Lorraine Greenduce patented drugs for export toworld and the developing countries,The loss to Canadian R & D will beGreen said the grandmotherscountries with public health problems.Green said, a recipient of the ATHENA significant.group is not giving up on the bill andchanged on the bill. It wasnt necessaryThe passage of the bill would have cutOakville award in 2010. There areThat was extremely disappointingintends to make it an election issue,for them to go through it and examinethe government red tape and wouldactual names and faces of those whobecause it had easily passed throughadding that it has already received sup-it word by word. They could havehave allowed for the export of cheapwill now lose their lives because of the House of Commons, said a fellowport from Liberal Leader Michaelpassed it very quickly but they choselife-saving drugs to places such as sub-this.oomama and its founding member BevIgnatieff.not to, she said. The bottom line is,Saharan Africa that are severely affectedAfter the fall of government lastLeFrancois. She added the organiza-All we can do, throughout the elec-after nearly seven years of waiting forby diseases such as HIV/AIDS.week, C-393 was among about 40 billstion was full of hope after the bill hadtion, is present the question to all per-Canada to deliver on this pledge to helpIts a real travesty. This bill wasto expire along with hundreds of piecespassed in parliament, all to be dashed insons that are running in the election toget affordable medicines to Africa andpassed in the House of Commons byof legislation.an instant.see where they stand, she said.other developing countries, the worldquite a large majority and by all theHowever, Green said the Senate hadI would challenge Tony ClementWere not giving up yet. We mayis still going to have to wait and peopleparties getting together to pass itall the answers it needed and couldon his letter and I hold him responsi-have lost this battle but the war isntwill die unnecessarily because toothrough, said Lorraine Green, a mem-have passed the bill after the House of ble, she said. When you consider thelost yet. Its been a long fight but notmany senators did not have the cour-ber of the grandmothers group ooma-Commons approved it on March 9.amount of time, effort, money payingonly the grandmothers have waged butage to do the right thing.ma. Oomama has been front and cen-They had already done all their duefor lawyers, in seven years to try anda lot of other partners that have workedShe added the bill could have beentre throughout the entire process advo-diligence on the bill. Nothing hadsave lives in Africa, this is extremelywith us.passed very quickly but wasnt becauseThis April 22nd marks the 41st anniversary of the establishment of Earth Day. To mark this milestone,The Oakville Beaver will be producing a very special NKA BB EDM Apublication, Lin OakvilleCELEBRATING OUR 6th ANNIVERSARYIt will be a special issue that focuses on reducing our 2011 BIRMINGHAM BANK BED CHALLENGEindividual environmental impact!From April 1 to May 2, 2011If you feel that this forum may provide the perfect venueMore than 40 bank branches acrossto promote your enviro friendly product or service, please Oakville will work together to raise fundsemail Daniel Baird dbaird@oakvillebeaver.comto purchase new patient care beds for the905-337-5552Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospitaland the new Oakville Hospital.Please support your bank by making adonation today to purchase a patient care bed.Ask your branch how you can help!Come out and join us on Sunday May 1 at 9:00 a.m.in downtown Oakville to cheer your bank to victory.Enjoy a fun filled morning withentertainment, activities and refreshments.Media SponsorRadio Sponsorwww.bankbedchallenge.comPLEASE SUPPORT THE 2011 BANK BED CHALLENGE WITH A DONATION TODAY!As a show of gratitude, for renaming the Bank Bed Challenge after the late Bruce Birmingham,the Birmingham family will match every donation, dollar for dollar, to the 2011 campaign. CHARITABLE #13145-3490-RR0001www.insideHALTON.com OAKVILLE BEAVER Thursday, March 31, 2011 4RMIINB G1H10Design and Printing services generously donated by Ideal Graphics Inc.2ENLGLEAHC