September 22, 2008

Ferlow Botanicals firmly believes that it is the fundamental human and constitutional right of personal sovereignty and freedom of choice for every Canadian citizen to determine what their individual healthcare preferences are. We also recognize that Natural Health Care Products (NHP) serve as an important part of a comprehensive Health Care system, therefore, we advocate and are in support of the proposed (Canadian) Charter of Health Freedom.

A Proposal To Live A Great Canadian Life

This is an exciting time in the field of natural medicine and healing arts.
With the Charter's ground breaking solution finally unveiled, we trust that it will be embraced by all Canadians. This landmark legislation will consecrate our nation, with a health care system that respects our ancestral legal rights. We envision this health care system to be fully sustainable, culturally diverse and encompass natural, traditional and conventional medicine. The Charter of Health Freedom has the potential to set us apart as one of the most progressive countries in the world introducing its visionary proposal: The Ministry of Wellness.

Charter of Health Freedom

The Charter of Health Freedom is a bold initiative that moves us in a new direction. It protects Canadians’ rights to unhindered access to safely regulated natural health products. It protects our freedom of choice from over-regulation by Health Canada. Since the January 2004 implementation of the Natural Health Products Regulations, Canadians have already lost 20,000 safe and effective natural health products. This Charter will put an end to the devastating trend of unreasonable restriction in our natural health community. 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 what form of health care they and their family wish to receive.

It’s your life. It’s your body. It’s your choice.

The Ministry of Wellness has been put forward as an alternative, and an adjunct, to the current Ministry of Health/Health Canada. Given the track records and differences between conventional medicine and natural medicine, it is quite evident that they should be regulated separately. The Ministry of Wellness would therefore oversee natural medicines, therapies and treatments and all natural healing arts while the Ministry of Health/Health Canada would oversee conventional medicine.

This concept is unique to Canada and would serve as a solution that would accommodate all parties and honour the multiple Supreme Court of Canada decisions which consistently reinforce the notion of sovereignty over one's body. With a new Charter and a new Ministry we can expect a broad-based health care system in which Canadians would be free to choose what form of health maintenance, prevention or treatment they would like to receive and could have confidence in knowing that both are being properly regulated.
Our goal is to bridge the gap between conventional medicine and natural medicine. We believe that all forms of medicine have their time and place and should be respected.

Additional information and a downloadable version (PDF) of the Charter and Petition are available at: charterofhealthfreedom.org

Say Yes! To Health Freedom

Stand up and be part of a historic movement that sees Canada at the forefront of sustainable health care. We need a cohesive, unified voice that says “Yes! To Health Freedom”. A single petition with millions of signatures will champion the Charter and Ministry of Wellness to take their rightful place in Canadian legislation.

Take it wherever you go

Get at least 25 signatures with all details required to make it count

Mail the original petition to:
Natural Health Product Protection Association (NHPPA)
#2 - 953 Laval Crescent
Kamloops, BC
V2C 5P4