Blaine Calkins' Natural Health Products bill passes second reading

OTTAWA -- Ponoka-Didsbury M-P Blaine Calkins' Bill C-224 has passed its second reading in the House of Commons.

The proposed legislation that seeks to cut red tape, reduce costs, and protect the rights of Canadians in accessing natural health products was passed unanimously in the House of Commons on March 10, 2026. The bill was first introduced back in September and became one of the few pieces of legislation during the current session to receive strong bipartisan support.

Speaking in Ottawa, Calkins said the proposed bill has garnered overwhelming support over the past few months.

"157,057 Canadians have signed the historic charter of health freedom petition, one of the largest paper petitions in Canadian history, initiated by the Natural Health Product Protection Association," said Calkins. "Parliament has a duty to respond to a petition of this magnitude, one driven by grassroots, everyday people who want rights that guarantee their freedom to make informed choices about their own health."

Calkins says these rights include the right of every person to sovereignty over their own body, the right to choose how to prevent illnesses or address illness and injury, and the right to access treatment options without unnecessary government restrictions.

"The charter of health freedom calls for a new legislative framework recognizing natural health products and traditional medicines in their own category, rather than treating them as therapeutic drugs under the Food and Drugs Act," said Calkins. "Canadians deserve a system that protects safety while respecting their ability to care for their own health, and after over 157,000 voices have spoken, now is the time for action for the health freedom of Canadians."

Bill C-224 will now come before Canada's Standing Committee on Health. HESA is a Canadian House of Commons committee that reviews legislation, policies, and spending for Health Canada and related agencies like the Public Health Agency of Canada.