OTTAWA – The Honourable Dr. Hedy Fry, Member of Parliament for Vancouver-Centre and a physician, today urged the Conservative government, after years of delay, to use the powers available to Cabinet through Governor-in-Council to fast-track her Private Members’ Bill on recreational alpine snow sport helmets.

“The recent serious brain injuries on Canada’s ski slopes are tragic reminders that these brain injuries are preventable. A simple stroke of the pen by the Harper Cabinet is all that it takes. The inexplicable failure to do so is nothing short of irresponsible,” said Dr. Fry. “The Canadian Standard Association (CSA) has developed a new standard for recreational alpine snow sport helmets, but Canadians will never get the benefit from it unless the Conservative government takes urgent action.”

Bill C-289 requires all non-CSA approved recreational snow sport helmets to be prohibited under the Hazardous Products Act. While helmets for hockey and lacrosse are regulated under hazardous-products legislation, helmets for sports such as snowboarding and skiing are not. Dr. Fry first introduced her bill in March 2007, but it will not be coming up for debate soon. So while it is supported by the three opposition parties, successive Conservative Health Ministers have failed to fast-track it through Governor-in-Council.

Dr. Fry’s Bill is supported by the Canadian Medical Association, the Alzheimer Society of Canada, the Brain Injury Association of Canada, the Insurance Bureau of Canada, and renowned neurosurgeon Dr. Charles Tator, the founder of ThinkFirst.

“ThinkFirst continues to recommend strongly that the federal government add recreational skiing and snowboarding helmets to the list of items covered by the Hazardous Products Act,” said Dr. Tator.

“Canada ranks 27th out of 29 OECD countries in government investment in youth injury prevention programs,” added Richard Kinar of the Brian Injury Association of Canada. “The Harper government should fast-track Bill C-289, and invest in a national injury prevention strategy for youth in sport.”