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Dear Member of Parliament:
I am concerned that proposals from the European Union as part of Canada-EU trade negotiations will drive up drug costs for Canadians by extending market monopolies for brand-name drugs.
Prescription drugs are one of the fasting rising costs in health care. Drugs are not covered by the Canada Health Act, which leaves Canadians, and particularly seniors and those on fixed incomes, vulnerable to cuts to our drug benefit programs when costs increase.
It does not make sense for Canada to take money from our health-care system and give it to drug companies based in Europe.
I strongly urge the Government of Canada to hold firm against the demands of brand-name drug companies and the European Union when it comes to extending drug monopolies.
Canada and the European Union (EU) are currently negotiating a comprehensive economic and trade agreement (CETA), which is expected to be concluded by 2012. As part of these negotiations, the EU has tabled proposals that would lengthen the period of market exclusivity for brand-name drugs in Canada by an average of 3.5 years and add nearly $3-billion annually to Canada’s prescription drug bill. 
As global players, Canada’s generic pharmaceutical industry is a strong advocate for enhanced trade, and supports efforts by the Government of Canada to reduce barriers to trade. Fully 40% of the Canadian production of generic prescription drugs is for export to more than 115 countries. Raw materials and other inputs are sourced on the international market.
Canada’s current intellectual property regime for pharmaceuticals exceeds our international treaty obligations and provides greater protections to brand-name drug companies than those afforded any other industry in Canada.
In Canada, market monopolies for brand-name drug companies have increased eight times since 1987, yet investments continue to decline, with R&D spending in Canada by brand-name drug companies at its lowest level since 1988. 
Inform your Member of Parliament that you are concerned that Canadian’s health-care money is at risk of being given away to brand-name drug companies based in Europe.