Tainted blood infected 30,000 Canadians with HIV and Hepatitis C in the 1980’s during one of the worst preventable health crises of our time.
An inquiry into the scandal found that in order to prevent another tragedy, Canada must not allow payment for blood and plasma donations.
But Canadian Plasma Resources — the same company that was kicked out of Ontario after setting up a pay-for-plasma clinic near a homeless shelter and drug treatment centre — plans to set up shop in B.C.
So far, Health Minister Terry Lake says he has no opposition to pay-for-plasma in our province.
The public successfully pressured the Ontario government to pass a ban on pay-for-plasma in 2014. We can do the same here in B.C., but it’s going to take a big collective effort to make it happen.
Please join the B.C. Health Coalition and BloodWatch.org for a free public town hall meeting to learn more about this important issue and help keep our blood system safe.
The town hall meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 11, 7-8 p.m. at Parksville Community and Conference Centre, 132 East Jensen Ave.
Adam Lynes-Ford, B.C. Health CoalitionVancouver
