The plan amounts to nothing short of a “clear and present danger” to the health and well-being of Canadians who need prescription medications, said John Adams, the volunteer chairman of the Best Medicines Coalition, a non-profit organization representing 28 national patient organizations. “This is really serious,” said Adams, who warned that the existing supply of drugs in Canada is not always sufficient to meet the current needs of Canadians, let alone a sudden surge in demand from south of the border.

The federal government may not be suitably equipped to protect the drug supply, he added, suggesting Parliament ought to be recalled before the October election in order to establish a mechanism to ensure Canadians have ample access to the medications they need. “We may not have all the necessary tools in place,” Adams said. “If not, let’s be honest about that and let’s call Parliament back to a special session before the election to create the legal tools to protect the supply of patented medicines for Canadians and their health needs.”