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IM: “It’s touched a nerve with women. In five weeks after starting the campaign, Jill reached her goal of 50,000 signatures. So there’s something here that I think women instinctively understand. It’s not just a few women who feel that these items are most definitely not a luxury. They are a necessity for a modern woman, going to work or school … we can’t rely on the old methods. And certainly, if you look at incontinence products and diapers, no one would question the fact that there’s no tax on those.”

Now that you’ve reached almost 60,000 supporters across Canada, what is your overall goal for the campaign?

JP: “What we’re trying to do is help this campaign go further and reach more Canadians. One of the ways we want to do that is by creating a video about the campaign that will raise awareness — not only about the GST charged on menstruation products — but also how online petitions cannot be tabled in the House of Commons. So we’re encouraging folks to print hard copies of the petition either in French or English, and get them back to Irene’s office by Apr. 27. The bill can still be brought forward by the government if they are willing, so that’s our goal.”

IM: “We are hoping to table the bill again in the first week of May while it still has some teeth. I think it’s great that this is suddenly on the radar. My guess is that with all of the interest, publicity and discussion, the petition has probably come to the attention of the government caucus and hopefully the ministers most directly connected. I haven’t heard anything yet, though.”

(The Department of Finance declined to comment on “possible policy actions or discuss what might be under consideration.”)