Blue Bear Aware Blog

Anaphylaxis Motion M-546 will be debated in the House of Commons - TODAY- Monday March 21st at 11am. Watch live on www.cpac.ca The Canadian Anaphylaxis Initiative (CAI), is an advocacy effort marshalled by a volunteer group of families from anaphylaxis support associations in communities across Canada. The CAI’s mission is to prompt the federal government to develop a strategic plan to decrease the risks for Canadians living with anaphylaxis (severe, life-threatening allergies) and to educate the public. About the Debate MP Dean Allison and other speakers for the hour debate are identified and all are favourable to the motion. It is intended with the House exchange that useful facts and information can be put on record. Monday's Hansard transcript will be used to prompt further Parliamentary activities that support Canadian individuals and families living with anaphylaxis.

Anaphylaxis Awareness in the Community - A Decade of Progress & A Future of Hope Registration is now open for Anaphylaxis Canada's 4th annual community conference which will be held this year at the Ontario Science Centre in Toronto, on Saturday, May 7th, 2011. The conference will focus on effectively managing the psycho-social aspects of living with food allergies and will provide attendees with useful tools and resources, as well as updates on the latest food allergy research. Come hear from some of Canada's top allergy researchers and policy makers. For more details on the conference and how to register, visit Anaphylaxis Canada's website at www.anaphylaxis.ca and click on "Spring Conference 2011".

The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, and Royal Galipeau, Member of Parliament for Ottawa-Orléans, announced regulations to strengthen Canada's labelling of food allergens and gluten sources. This means that Canadians with food allergies, sensitivities and celiac disease will soon be able to make more informed choices about the foods they buy. The Ministers also unveiled what the food label will now look like. "Our Government is committed to protecting children and families from dangerous products, and this is clear from the measures we have taken in our new Consumer Product Safety Act," said Minister Aglukkaq. "All parents want to have confidence in the food they are serving their families, and these changes to food labels will make it easier for parents of children with food allergies to identify potentially harmful, if not fatal, ingredients in foods." The new regulations will require additional labelling and strengthen the labelling requirements