Ottawa, April 22, 2009 – The Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs (CAFC) today urged Parliament to give speedy approval to Bill C-6, the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act (CCPSA) which has just gone to Second Reading in the House of Commons.
“A significant percentage of fire department calls in Canada are in response to unsafe products in the home and CAFC has long urged the government to modernize and strengthen product safety laws,” said Saint John Fire Chief Robert Simonds, First Vice-President of the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs.
“While we continue to be concerned about the manufacture and importation of unsafe, often counterfeit consumer products like candles and cigarettes, and the sale of matches and lighters to minors, we are particularly worried about the increasing use of flammable chemicals in residential furnishings, toys and clothing,” said Vice-President Simonds.
“We congratulate Canada’s Minister of Health, the Hon. Leona Aglukkaq, on her efforts and those of her department, through consultations and this legislation, to limit risk to the health and safety of Canadians,” he added.
Bill C-6 will provide better oversight of consumer products in Canada by improving the government’s ability to take timely compliance and enforcement actions when unsafe products are identified. It will also encourage compliance through higher fines and increased penalties for violators.
About CAFC
CAFC comprises some 1000 Fire Chiefs across Canada and is the only organization that speaks for all elements of the Canadian Fire Services. The Chiefs are in Ottawa this week to speak to elected representatives and government officials about a range of policy issues of concern to the Fire Services. www.cafc.ca.
