Editor:

Thousands of people in developing countries, many of them children, suffer and die needlessly every year because they cannot afford or access the medicines they need.

On Nov. 28 Parliament voted on Bill C-398, designed to remove bureaucratic obstacles in the way of exporting low-cost generic drugs, drugs that would save and improve the lives of those thousands.

Provisions of the bill ensured that there would be no effect on the supply of drugs in Canada, nor would there be any cost to the taxpayer. World Trade Organization regulations (2001 Doha Declaration) explicitly allows such trade practices.

The Conservative government defeated the bill, referring vaguely to trade concerns or refusing to comment.

Seven Conservative MPs had the courage to vote yes. Your representative Mark Strahl voted no.

Greg Schlitt Chilliwack