Dear Editor: Health Minister Dingwall says the Health Protection Branch of Health Canada is “protecting the health” of Canadians. By severely restricting the natural health products a Caradian health food business is allowed to sell, and imposing sometimes onerous fees upon these busi- nesses under the guise of protecting Canadians. the Health Protection Branch CHPB) of Health Canada is exporting dollars, jobs and taxes. The present actions are also threatening the very exis- tence of hundreds of small Canadian Health food srores. This becomes even more insane when one realizes that the importation of these products for personal use is perfectly legal. The products themselves are not illegal, only the sale of these products by Canadian businesses is illegal! If a Canadian resident wishes to use melatonin in place of a chemical sleeping pill, it is permissible to order the mela- tonin from a U.S-based company, but,.if a Canadian business wanted to scl! the same product to the same consumer, it is jiable to be charged for trafficking by the PB. When questioned, Health Minister Dingwall states: “It is not the intention of my department to restrict free choice, but rather to ensure that the choices available can be made with due regard for person- al safety and the requirements of the laws THE following is a brief summary of the agendas for North Shore municipat councils, . North Vancouver City Council: Monday, May 5, 6 p.m. Proclamations: Emer- gency Preparedness Week; Suicide Awareness Week; - Elizabeth Fry Week. Correspondence. Presentation: . The corporation of the City of North Vancouver Youth Achievement Awards Pro- . Westview Area Planning Study report. Lower Lonsdale Planning © Study. Annual Budget, capital expenditure, tax rates and percentage addi- tions bylaws. North Shore Arts _ Commission Request for use of 1996 operation surplus. . Rezoning. Development vari- ance permits. For more agenda details contact municipal clerk Bruce Hawkshaw at 985-7761. North Vancouver District Council: Monday, May 5, 7 p.m. Recognitions. Delega- tions. Reports. See ad on page 8 for complete agenda desauls. West Vancouver District Council: Mondavy,- May 5, 7:45 p.m. Delegations. Information reports. Annual budget and tax rates. For more agenda details contact munic- pal clerk Margaret Warwick at 925-7000 or call the 24-hour agenda line at 925-7053. north shore news MAIL Rox Health Protection noi protecting our health of Canada.” The laws the minister refers to appear to protect not the Canadian consumer, and certainly not a Canadian business but oniy the major pharmaceutical compa- nies. The minister also states: “The person importing the product for personal use takes full responsibility for the product and the outcome of its use.” When questioned as to exactly how a person using a product imported for per- sonal use is treated any differentiy under our system from a person buying a prod- uct from a Canadian business, the minis- ter refuses to answer. The Health Protection Branch has refused tc entertain a disclaimer Jabel which would allow a Canadian business to sell the very same product to the very same consumer under the exact same conditions, which a U.S. based company is able to. When the Health Protection Branch removed tryptophan from sale by health food stores, the price jumped from about $20 for a bottle of 100 :atlets to $120 from a pharmacy. The same thing can happen to Vitamin C, echinacea, glucosamine sul- phate, and the many other products Canadians are increasingly choosing to use in place of chemical based com- pounds. Products that have been used by mil- lions and millions of people world-wide, DRIVE TIME for hundreds and hundreds of years, are being severely restricted, if not removed from the market, by the HPB. This, in the name of “protecting Canadians,” while at the same time refus- ing to provide dara thar clearly shows hundreds, if not thousands of Canadians die each year from pharmaceutical prod- ucts, and none dies from the products the HPB is attacking. The Liberal government is clearly not concerned about the health and safety of Canadian residents, and most certainly not for small Canadian businesses. It appears to be simply concerned about major pharmaccutical companies, and these companies’ profits. Pharmacare is another step dong this road. If the Liberal government was truth- fully concerned for the health and safety of Canadian residenrs, it would immedi- ately launch a major initiative to study and promote natural health products. This may well reduce our national expen- ditures for pharmaceutical products, and raise the overall level of wellness. Del Anderson delander@added-dimensions.com MAILBOX POLICY LETTERS to the editor must be legible (preferably typewritten) and include your name, full address and telephone num- ber. Submissions can be faxed to 985- 2104, The new Citizen Paladion Sport 100 Collection offers a variety of Ladies and Gents bracelet and strap watches — each with a rotating bezel and water resistant to 100 metres (333 ft.). Plus, two men’s chronographs with a 12 hour recorder and date feature. Now, add the quality and detailing found in luxury priced watches, and see why -Paladion Sport 100 is such a great expression of sporty elegance and a great value. Priced from $275. Importers of Gemstones, Manufacturers of Fine jewellery Capilano Mall North Vancouver 984-2040 Eaton Centre, Metrotown 430-2040 Mayfair Mall, Victoria 382-2040 Now open at Park Royal South 925-2043 S grace Re: “Where there is life there is hope” (P. Seeley, April 16). First, 1 wish to express how uplifted I am when I read an article by a God-loving person. Tamia Christian and wish to put forward my views thar oppose P. Secicy. He writes “Our purpose is to fulfil our assignments with distinction so that we graduate with honors, and ascend into the fand of eternal promise.” The scriptures teli us that it is not by our works that we are saved and ascend into the land of eternal promise — it is the gift of God. Sending his son Jesus Christ to die for our sins, chat we may be sanctified and received by God into the land of eternity. We will ascend to the land of eternal promise by God’s grace (God’s redemption at Christ’s expense). Jonathan Gardner North Vancouver A\ LITTLE RASCALS PREscHCOL (ys OPEN HOUSE ARE Our exciting preschool program combines an enriched academic approach to early education with 4 . COMPUTER ENHANCED LEARNING. kay eset” Please Stop By To Learn Mcrei at as ~+ . 370 West Kings Rd, North Vancouver 987-3168 . 1997 Youth Awards (see below) . Mr. Peter Simpson re Greater Vancouver Homebuilders Good Neighbour Policy . Mr. Mike Rocevar, CUPE 389 re Garbage Collection Tender . Capital Expenditure Program Bylaw 6961 . 1997 Annual Budget Approval Bylaw 6960 . 1997 Tax Rates Bylaw 6951 . Procedure Bylaw 6959 . Melody School and Daycare, 2733 Kilmamock Cres. . Development Variance Permit -258 Balmoral Rd. 10. Council Meeting Summer Schedule 11. Sports Travel Grant Request from B.C. Athletics 12. Wm Griffin recCentre Steam Room Addition 13. Request for Report - Dollarton Hwy Realignment For more information on any of these agenda items, please rcfer to the District's Web page or call the Clerk's Office at 990-221!. Ura We Ay Saturday, May 10 : Thursday, May 15 Lynn Valley Library, | Seymour Elementary 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. : 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. For more information call 990-2407 or check the District’s InfoWeb ULCOUVET