Women crowding in front of computers and television sets across the country late last week were jubilant.
For the last four years they have been working to support Bill C-393, also known as Canada's Access to Medicines Regime (CAMR). Parliament passed Bill C-393 on March 9.
Bill C-393 reforms CAMR by allowing generic drug companies to produce patented drugs for export to countries with public health problems. Thismeans that shipments of lower-cost essential medications are now closer to flowingfrom Canada to communities in sub-Saharan Africa affected by the AIDS pandemic.
Locally, the Sunshine Coast Grandmothers and Grand Others have been part of the network of support for the bill. Many hurdles have been overcome to get this far. There have been so many places in the process where it could have all gone wrong. And while it isn't over yet, this is an enormous step forward.
Across the country, in Halifax, Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver and Victoria-and at all points in between, Grandmother groups have been involved with the campaign to pass the Bill. Literally thousands of postcards, letters to MPs, letters to editors, signatures on petitions and visits to their representatives have led to this. The National Advocacy Committee of the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign has, with cross country support from240 grass-roots groups, worked tirelessly to both raise funds and advocate on behalf of their sisters in Africa who are raising children orphaned by the AIDS pandemic.
C-393 must also pass in the Senate to become law, and before an election writ is dropped.
"Our work isn't over yet," said Julie Gleadow, a member of the local Grandmothers group and the National Advocacy Committee. "Senators will be hearing from grandmothers in the coming weeks. This legislation saves human lives and we therefore expect the Senate will support it, as the House of Commons did."
-Submitted
