Bill C-474 Passes and David Sweet is a Dud

The good news:  Bill C-474 passed which means that it now goes to the Agriculture Committee for review. But, hold on, the biotech companies are not ready to lay down and die. There's a lot of money on the line and they want it. As the biotech industry gets louder, so to must we. CBAN offers ways that you can take action now.

The bad news:  Well, it depends. Maybe you have a better MP than we do.  Mr. David Sweet, Dud Extraordinaire, voted against Bill C-474.  What Who did your MP vote for?  Mosey on over to the House of Commons site and check out the vote for yourself.

p.s. Dear Mama, I'm sorry to confirm your suspicions about your MP, Mr. Russ Hiebert. You were right all along, he is as big a disappointment as ole' Dave Sweet.

HISTORIC NDP GMO BILL PASSES CRUCIAL VOTE

Source: Boundary Sentinel 

MP Alex Atamanenko, B.C. Southern Interior

A private members bill to protect farmers by calling for an analysis of potential harm to export markets prior to approving new genetically engineered seeds has passed second reading in the House of Commons. Bill C-474, proposed by New Democrat Agriculture Critic Alex Atamanenko (BC-Southern Interior), will move to committee for further study.

“Despite intense lobbying efforts by the biotech industry and the Conservative government to nip this bill in the bud, the opposition parties voted instead to protect the economic interests of farmers,” said Atamanenko. “I couldn’t be happier that Parliament has made this historic decision.”

This is the first time a bill to change the rules on GMOs has passed second reading in the House.

Atamanenko believes that the government‘s science-only approach to how GMO’s are regulated is irresponsible because it completely ignores market considerations.

“It was the government’s lax regulatory process that allowed GE Triffid flax to shut out Canadian flax exports from its key markets and hurt farmers,” explained Atamanenko. “For the first time, Parliament has a chance to seriously consider a regulatory mechanism that will ensure farmers are never again faced with rejection in our export markets because we allow the introduction of GE technologies that they have not approved.”

Take Action - Your MP Votes This April 14

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." There's no time to spare, the Conservatives are opposing the bill.  Without the Liberals support, the release of GMO strains of food will be relentless. Let Michael Ignatieff, the ruler of the Liberal party, know that you want them to vote for the Bill.

The Canadian Biotechnology Action Network has more ways that you can take action. Call your MP and find out how they are voting on this important Bill and hold them accountable!

Aw, look!  It's Mr. David Sweet, our local MP.  Mr. Sweet voted against the mandatory labeling of GMO foods. Let's hope he's educated himself a bit more since then. 

It's GMO Tuesday! Fun!

• Foreign Aid Bill Mandates Genetic Engineering
• Zambia's Conservation Farming Success
• Herbicide Resistance in Western Canada
• GE Seeds Creating Barriers to Exports for Canadian Farmers (but don't worry, if you're in Canada or the U.S., you can have all the GE foodstuffs you want!)
• Check out Greenpeace's GMO guide to see if your favourite grocery store items are harboring GMOs. It's heartbreaking to see that infant formula, in addition to being such a poor substitute for breast milk, is also contaminated with GMOs. 

If you are consuming meat or dairy products and the farmer is using non-organic sources for his/her feed, you are consuming GMOs. Locally sourcing your food is great, but it has to go beyond that. Ask your farmer about her farming practices. What are the animals eating? Where and how does he grow his feed? What about the farmers around him? At present, GMO canola, corn, and soy are being used in animal feed with the possibility of alfalfa looming on the horizon.