The Charter of Health Freedom is proposed legislation that gives natural health products and traditional medicines their own Act.
The Charter protects our access to natural health products and traditional medicines by creating a separate legal category for them. Rather than being deemed as dangerous drugs under the Food and Drugs Act, under the Charter of Health Freedom, natural health products and traditional medicines are deemed to be safe, as they are in the United States.
The Charter of Health Freedom offers an appropriate, healthy, beneficial, safe and well-rooted change for regulating the natural health community. Canadians are protected by permitting unsafe products to be removed while at the same time ensuring that safe and effective treatments remain available.
The Charter recognizes the fundamental right of every individual to make personal health decisions. This includes decisions on:
Maintaining health and wellness
Preventing illness
Treating illness or injury
Diagnosing health conditions
By granting these rights, the Charter empowers individuals to take control of their health and choose the best treatment options for themselves.
Natural health products (NHPs) and traditional medicine cannot be safeguarded under the Food and Drugs Act. The natural health community needs a separate act. If the tobacco industry was permitted to protect itself from drug regulation in 1997 by forming the Tobacco Act, so too can safe and effective NHPs and traditional medicine be permitted protection in a similar fashion.
We need a balanced set of laws for NHPs and the natural health community. We need a legal foundation designed to protect NHPs and the natural health community. We can’t experience the health freedom that the courts tell us we have if there is restricted access to safe, effective, and high quality NHPs. The Charter of Health Freedom gives the government powers needed to address safety concerns while at the same time requiring them to respect our rights and freedoms.
This new federal legislation serves to include all natural medicines, therapies and treatments. It is built on the fundamental belief that every person has the right to choose how they manage their health and the health of their family.
The Charter of Health Freedom protects Canadians’ rights to unhindered access to safely regulated natural health products.
It protects our freedom of choice from over-regulation and inappropriate regulation. It protects and even saves Canadian’s lives. Since the January 2004 implementation of the Natural Health Products Regulations, Canadians have already lost countless safe and effective natural health products, and this has only intensified since the introduction of Health Canada’s Self-Care Framework initiative in 2017. This Charter will put an end to the unreasonable restriction in our natural health community.
The Charter of Health Freedom is proposed Federal Law. The federal government does not have the jurisdiction to regulate health care practitioners. This is why provinces regulate health issues such as who can practice as health care practitioners. Because the Federal Government does not have the jurisdiction to regulate health care practitioners, the Charter of Health Freedom does not attempt to do so. The only effect the Charter will have on health care practitioners is to ensure that safe and effective treatments remain available to them.
The greatest crisis facing Canadians in our health care system is the growing tension between constantly rising costs and declining outcomes. When Canadians use natural health products they ease the burden on the health care system. This deserves to be recognized by our Members of Parliament. Why is it not public policy to support such tendencies dollar against dollar, measure against measure? Considering benefits, adverse effects, and compliance NHPs deliver a better return on investment than drugs. It should be the case that the widest possible use of NHPs is formally promoted.
The Charter of Health Freedom could significantly benefit the Canadian economy by protecting against the restrictive impacts of Health Canada’s Self-Care Framework and cost recovery initiatives. Health Canada’s new regulations and fees threaten small and medium-sized businesses in the natural health product (NHP) industry, which in 2023, employed 54,000 Canadians. Many NHP companies are being driven out of business as a result of over-regulation, or being pushed to relocate to the US. The Charter of Health Freedom would protect these vital businesses from over-regulation and onerous fees and fines, ensuring their survival and growth. This would help maintain a diverse and affordable selection of NHPs, support innovation, and preserve jobs—ultimately fostering a thriving domestic market that contributes to economic stability and growth.
The Charter acknowledges the importance of traditional medicine, including for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. It safeguards their right to practice and access their traditional health practices, which are integral to their cultural heritage and well-being.
The Charter of Health Freedom would protect and honour ancient traditions such as Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda by ensuring these treatment options are recognized and respected. By preventing restrictive regulations that limit the availability of traditional remedies, the Charter supports the preservation and continuation of these ancient practices. This not only honours the cultural heritage of communities that rely on Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda but also promotes a diverse and inclusive approach to health and wellness in Canada.
