How can Cannan "consider both sides of (GM foods) debate" when there's been no debate
To the editor:
Re.: MP’s Report: Genetically Modified Food Debate Position Taken By Ottawa Defended, Nov. 19 Capital News.
A public demonstration and negative feedback over the genetic engineering of the food supply caused Ron Cannan, MP Kelowna-Lake Country, to defend his pro-GMO position.
The Conservative government is promoting genetically modified food and animals without the knowledge or consent of Canadians. Salmon will have eel genes and pigs will have mice genes, (Enviropig) if approved.
Canadians were not consulted before permanent changes were made to plant crops, and labeling laws have been voted down already. Apparently, Canadians have no right to know what they are eating. GM crops currently produce insecticides inside the plant.
Bill C-474 would require that “an analysis of potential harm to export markets be conducted before the sale of any new genetically engineered seed is permitted.”
Two hundred and fifty people attended a rally in downtown Kelowna on Nov. 7 in response to the GMO debate being cancelled in Parliament. Ron Cannan and Stockwell Day voted on Oct. 27, 2010 to prematurely end the debate about genetically engineered crops.
The Canadian Wheat Board, the Farmers Union and the Organic Association were to testify in support of Bill C-474 but were denied the opportunity. Their message: Seeds and pollen from gene-altered plants are contaminating the fields of natural growers. Contaminated crops cannot be exported to more than 28 countries and Europe restricts gene-altered crops for health and environmental reasons. Canada’s natural (non GMO) growers lose their full export potential, and are sued by the biotech companies for using the technology (gene-altered seeds) without a license.
Mr. Cannan voted down the GMO debate in Parliament, yet is on record saying, after considering both sides of the debate, he has concluded that GMOs are beneficial.
Could someone explain how this MP considered both sides of a debate that didn’t happen?
“I have learned more about Canada’s GM crop production and I have reviewed the health, safety and environmental regulations that are in place,” Cannan writes in his Nov. 19 column in the Capital News.
The actual fact is that there is not any data to review—Health Canada has not done any safety testing.
People are waking up to what is happening to their food, and are not liking what they are seeing. The numbers go well beyond the thousands of people who signed the petition for Bill C-474.
Heidi Osterman,
president, True Food Foundation (www.truefoodfoundation.org),
Kelowna
