Login / RegisterMetro Vancouver Conservative MPs vote against genetically engineered seeds bill
Metro Vancouver MPs are split along party lines over an effort to reform how genetically engineered seeds are regulated in Canada.
Bill C-474, which is under debate in Ottawa, was introduced by NDP MLA Alex Atamanenko amid worries about the loss of European export markets due to the genetic contamination of Canadian flax crops.
If passed, the private member’s bill would prevent the sale of any new genetically engineered seeds before an analysis is conducted of the potential harm to the livelihood of farmers.
On April 14, the House of Commons voted 153-134 to approve second reading of the bill, which now goes to committee.
The bill is moving forward despite almost unanimous opposition from Conservative members of Parliament, including all of those in the Metro Vancouver area.
John Cummins, the Conservative MP for Delta-Richmond East, criticized the bill for seeking to fix a regulatory system that he said isn’t broken.
Cummins told the Straight that the proposed changes would “seriously undermine the science-based arguments that are made to foreign governments to open their markets to Canadian goods”.
“Our view of the bill is that it would allow for a looser interpretation or a more inaccurate interpretation of what we think the real concerns are out there in the marketplace,” he said by phone this afternoon (April 16). “We’re trying to protect the system that’s in place now, which we feel is appropriate.”
No Liberal or NDP MPs from Metro Vancouver voted against second reading of the bill.
Atamanenko, who’s the NDP agriculture critic and MP for British Columbia Southern Interior, argued the new regulations are needed to protect farmers.
“It’s ludicrous to develop a product that there’s no market for,” Atamanenko told the Straight by phone this afternoon.
“We know that there’s tremendous pressure on all of us from the big biotech industry, in this case, not to move this forward,” he added. “The Conservatives have succumbed to this pressure with the exception of two members who voted to support my bill last Wednesday night.”
GM seeds are the fish farms of the agricultural world.
They pretend to help, but they kill diversity.
http://www.councilforresponsiblegenetics.org/GeneWatch/GeneWatchPage.asp...
Historically man has survived within the limits of natures bounty. If there wasn't enough food in one location we would move to an area that would provide for our needs. We did not modify the land to suit the people. We modified our behavioud to suit the land.
Perspective on this issue is as diverse as any other issue.
The seeds of from nature are a gift. Man does not seem able to live within the bounds of nature. Man does not seem to have the same respect for nature as our ancestors have had for millions of years.
If we can learn to live within our natural means, humans should be able to continue with the privileged lives we have. If we insist on playing around with genetics, chemical fertilizers, hormones, pesticides and other manmade modifications, we will be responsible for our own demise.
In the meantime - grow your own food, save your seeds from one year to the next, respect the natural bounty.
We are all slowly being poisoned with these carcinogens! No one can escape it! Have your blood tested! I can guarantee you will have a minimum of 50-60 known carcinogens in it! Don't ask why- carcinogens are in EVERYTHING! Cleaners, Detergents, ALL foods, water, we breathe, eat, absorb through our pours all of them and it is a BILLION dollar industry! DO YOUR HOME WORK! One in three of us WILL have A FORM of CANCER in our lifetime as will our children and for their children the percentage increases!
It's not rocket science!! Just do your home work.
Note to: Jaye Sunsurn- we do not have to worry about any infection from the south when our Government is allowing it right here in our own country! Were you aware that the Gov't of Canada mandated yet ANOTHER Growth Promoter in our Canadian Beef last year- 2009! There are now 6 growth promoters in our beef! 3 of which are listed in "mad cow". RESEARCH more bud!