New Tecumseth Coun. Jim Stone believes changes to the Canadian Food and Drugs Act takes away freedom of choice and he wants to do something about it.

Stone put forward a resolution  to lobby the federal government on Bill C-51. The resolution says changes to the food and drug safety criteria to protect Canadians will have a negative impact on citizens and businesses. Stone also wants to circulate the resolution to other municipalities for support.

“It’s very important that we do this,” said Stone. “It’s certainly important that we have a choice.”

Bill C-51 was introduced in April. It strengthens regulations on medical devices, drugs, cells, tissues, organs, vaccines, veterinary drugs and natural health products. If passed, licences would be required for importing food, and inspection of drugs after they’re on the market would increase. Health Canada would also be able to issue mandatory recalls on products and fines for violating the legislation would increase.

Much of the opposition to the bill is having natural health products included in the same category as prescription medicine.

Barrie resident Greg Staley spoke against Bill C-51 at a recent committee of the whole meeting.

“I’m not a hippie, I’m not a radical, but I do believe in choice,” said Staley. “It’s written in such a vague matter that it could include coffee, and that’s scary.”

Coun. Dennis Egan questioned if the timing is right to be circulating the resolution. He said recent changes to the bill address some of Stone’s concerns.

The changes include a category for natural health products that is separate from drugs and food. Also, health inspectors can only seize products to identify or stop health risks or prevent inaccurate claims.

A vote on the resolution was  deferred.

Town staff have been directed to provide councillors with a link to the bill online, or provide them with a copy of it.