Former MP wants Philpott to intervene in department handling of drug safety law
OTTAWA — Former Conservative MP Terence Young is calling for Health Minister Jane Philpott to personally review her department’s handling of a law that bears his daughter’s name — a request supported by both opposition parties.
Young says a robust drug safety bill — called Vanessa’s Law — cleared the House of Commons and Senate without dissent but he now believes Health Canada is quietly looking to dilute its powers in related regulations.
He points to consultation documents from the department this summer as evidence of this, suggesting key requirements in the law — including mandatory adverse drug reaction reporting by health care institutions — are being “gutted.”
Philpott cannot allow this to happen, he said.