Canada's Proposed C-51 Law

[OilKiller]

Well, I don't think we need more laws to help the stupid people out. Frankly I'm sick of the government controlling as much of my life as they do. I don't think we should all suffer because people are not willing to do the research or pay attention to what they are doing.

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by OilKiller

Well, I don't think we need more laws to help the stupid people out. Frankly I'm sick of the government controlling as much of my life as they do. I don't think we should all suffer because people are not willing to do the research or pay attention to what they are doing.

100% agreed. I don't like these laws anymore than you do...but its a double edged sword.

Do we pass nuisance laws to limit idiocy, or do we accept the idiocy and pay the financial burden they put on the public healthcare system and legal system?

[troutman]

Originally Posted by OilKiller

Well, I don't think we need more laws to help the stupid people out. Frankly I'm sick of the government controlling as much of my life as they do. I don't think we should all suffer because people are not willing to do the research or pay attention to what they are doing.

Buyer beware? I'm okay with that to some extent.

But, is it okay that charlatans are making millions selling useless or harmful products?

[OilKiller]

Originally Posted by troutman

Buyer beware? I'm okay with that to some extent.

But, is it okay that charlatans are making millions selling useless or harmful products?

Well, it's buyer beware for a lot of products out there. As to making millions, well, the more we control, the less control we will have of our lives.

They only make millions because people are willing to shill out the money for the supposed quick fix. That is their problem if they lose their money IMHO.

I can buy Flinstone Vitamins and take too many and hurt myself very easily if I wanted to. Should we outlaw vitamins too because people don't pay attention or use a product properly or consult their doctor before taking something?

[troutman]

Originally Posted by OilKiller

They only make millions because people are willing to shill out the money for the supposed quick fix. That is their problem if they lose their money IMHO.

Any what if people are shilling out money based on false or exaggerated claims made by the purveyors? Should they have no accountability?

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by troutman

Buyer beware? I'm okay with that to some extent.

But, is it okay that charlatans are making millions selling useless or harmful products?

From what I understand that's really the point of the bill. How many people are buying garbage "Natural health products," that at best serve no purpose to their bodies? I know it's in vouge to not trust drug companies and to seek out "Natural Alternatives" for even very serious conditions, but the way I see it is that on one side you have the drug companies that are actually held to account pre-emptively in some respect for the products they heave upon the world and the other side consisting of companies that aren't held accountable for what they sell at all, with their sales perpetuated by non-doctors declaring only anecdotal evidence. A leading manufacturer of "Natural Health Products" in Canada, Jamison, said in a statement that the only manufacturers who should be worried about this bill are those who aren't really on the up and up.

[OilKiller]

Originally Posted by troutman

Any what if people are shilling out money based on false or exaggerated claims made by the purveyors? Should they have no accountability?

I have no problem with companies being accountable, I just don't think we need to outlaw products because people abuse them or don't use them properly.

[photon]

Originally Posted by OilKiller

I have no problem with companies being accountable, I just don't think we need to outlaw products because people abuse them or don't use them properly.

I think that's partly the point of this bill though is to give them the power to go after the companies that aren't being accountable. Because there are no end of people that will lie about a product so they can sell it to take your money, and a $5000 fine is nothing to them, while a $5 million fine might make them take notice.

That's not buyer beware, that's theft, no different than me telling an old lady she needs the tire grease on her car replaced for a low low fee of $995.

[photon]

Wheelchair tire grease!

[Azure]

Originally Posted by troutman

Buyer beware? I'm okay with that to some extent.

But, is it okay that charlatans are making millions selling useless or harmful products?

Like Fast Food?

[old-fart]

Originally Posted by Azure

Like Fast Food?

Depends... personally I've never seen a commercial for a Big Mac claim that it can cure cancer, or is an effective treatment for bi-polar disorder.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by old-fart

Depends... personally I've never seen a commercial for a Big Mac claim that it can cure cancer, or is an effective treatment for bi-polar disorder.

But you've also never seen a commercial for a Big Mac tell you that over-eating it will increase your chances to have heart problems or become overweight.

I won't even get into the crap they put into their food to make it taste 'good'....but I don't find it much different than the crap people try to see off as vitamins these days.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Azure

But you've also never seen a commercial for a Big Mac tell you that over-eating it will increase your chances to have heart problems or become overweight.

I won't even get into the crap they put into their food to make it taste 'good'....but I don't find it much different than the crap people try to see off as vitamins these days.

I think the distinction arises when people forego expensive, proven medical practice for the vastly cheaper wonderdrug to cure them of their ailments and said drug is little more than a pill of pure lies.

[Burninator]

The National Post ran an article about this the other day.

In fact, some of the campaign's alarming criticisms of Bill C-51 were themselves a matter of debate. And the seemingly grassroots movement has been driven largely by two controversial natural-health companies embroiled in drawn-out legal battles with Health Canada. One sells an unlicensed vitamin treatment for bipolar disorder, the other herbal "heart drops" for cardiac disease.

http://www.nationalpost.com/related/...html?id=590205

[octothorp]

Jeez, for about the third time in the last two weeks, I find myself siding with the conservative government here. (I feel dirty.) But it sounds like Clement launched a bill that had good intentions, listened to fair criticisms and made revisions to the bill to make sure that it didn't allow for misuse of authority, and yet made sure that the bill still has the teeth to follow through on it's original intent. Specifically, to punish those who were manufacturing health products containing ingredients or making claims that would not be allowed for regular drugs.

[Bobblehead]

Yeah, from what I have read, I tend to agree with what the gov't is doing. Just because something is "natural" does not mean it is safe, and if it is being marketed as a health product then it should be subject to stringent standards and ad the very lest be required to provide proof of its claims.