Lives Over Profit

Over one billion dollars in Federal Government funds have been directed towards COVID-19 research. Doctors Without Borders has launched a petition calling for government to ensure that any breakthroughs are made available to all. 

At the June 16, 2020, VDLC Regular Meeting delegates voted to endorse the Lives Over Profit petition. COVID-19 vaccines, medicines, or treatments that are developed must be made available to all who need them, free of patents, monopolies, and high prices.

The motion adopted by the delegates reads as follows: 

Subject:  Lives Over Profit

BECAUSE the Federal Government has committed more than one billion dollars to develop COVID-19 vaccines, medicines, and diagnostic tests; and

BECAUSE most of this public funding is flowing to private entities, with no requirements that lifesaving vaccines or medications be made accessible and affordable for those who need them; and

BECAUSE Doctors Without Borders has launched a petition calling upon Canada’s Minister of Health, Patty Hajdu, to impose safeguards requiring that any medicines, vaccines, or health innovations discovered or developed with public funds be made affordable, accessible, and available for everyone who needs them – free of patents, monopolies, and high prices,

THE VANCOUVER AND DISTRICT LABOUR COUNCIL WILL endorse and circulate the Doctors Without Borders petition “Lives Over Profit”, calling on Minister of Health Patty Hajdu to ensure that any medicines, vaccines, or health innovations discovered or developed with public funds be made affordable, accessible, and available for everyone who needs them.

To view and sign the petition, click HERE.