INDU Committee Related Document

14 May 2007
The Honourable Maxime Bernier, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Industry
Industry Canada
235 Queen Street
Ottawa, Ontario

Dear Mr. Minister:

I am writing on behalf of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology concerning Canada’s Access to Medicines Regime (CAMR).  The Committee is concerned that since the passage of the legislation that created CAMR in 2005, no pharmaceutical products have been exported to any country under the regime.  As you are aware, the Committee recently held three meetings on CAMR with the goal of identifying potential problems with the regime and possible changes that could be made to it in order for CAMR to meet its objective of improving access to medicines in the developing world. 

The Committee believes it is important that the testimony it heard be considered by the Government of Canada as it completes its statutory review of the relevant Patent Act provisions of CAMR.  The Committee is thus appending to this letter a summary of 16 major issues that were raised during the testimony on CAMR, along with witness comments and recommendations on these issues, and is requesting that each of these issues be addressed in the statutory review.

The Committee looks forward to reading the report on the statutory review, including the Government of Canada’s response to the issues that were raised during the testimony heard by the Committee on CAMR.  The Committee may choose to hold further hearings on this issue once it is in receipt of the government’s report.

Yours sincerely,

James Rajotte, M.P.
Chair
House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology