Now, can I talk a little bit about why I want to do this?
I feel we have to exercise a precautionary principle. I think the compromise we can arrive at is that by adopting this bill, if we build in some checks.... What we're saying here is that the Governor in Council may make regulations in respect of biofuel production in Canada, and in particular shall within six months after this subsection comes into force make regulations. Then you'll see that the last amendment, the second one I have, is to have a review of this.
It's important.... We've discussed and we've heard from witnesses with regard to genetically modified grains. What I'm proposing is that we prohibit the use of genetically modified grains, oilseeds, or trees for biofuel production, except for those that are already in existence.
This is not just something on which we have received information from organizations that have been studying the aspect of health; this can be costly to farmers. It can be costly because of contamination. Farm Update, a document that was prepared in regard to genetically modified crops in Ontario, says that:
Contamination events can cost farmers and industry billions. For example: In 2006 and 2007, two unapproved GM rice varieties were found in 25 countries including Canada. The rice contaminated foundational seed in the U.S. and resulted in bans and restrictions on imports of U.S. produced rice. The rice was grown in U.S. field trials in 2001 but the U.S. government has not tracked the exact source of contamination. The Canadian Government now only approves a GM crop for growing if it is also approved for human consumption. This measure was taken after Starling corn, approved in the U.S. for animal feed but not for human safety, widely contaminated the world's food supply resulting in product recalls in an estimated $1 billion cost to the food industry.
That's just an example I use to show that by exercising precaution, we can move ahead in the industry, but let's not use the industry as a means of introducing more GM technology. Specifically I'd like to look at wheat. As you know, whether or not we agree on the marketing, we know we have a very good quality of wheat and durum that is renowned in the world. If we were to allow, for example, for the sake of expediency the introduction of a brand of wheat that is genetically modified for biodiesel, for ethanol, then the strong possibility exists, if we look at what has happened with rice in the United States, that the wheat we grow now for food consumption and production could be contaminated.
Then we can see the costs and we can see ourselves trying to catch up. That's the main reason for including proposed paragraph 140(2.1)(a). As for prohibiting the use of lands protected by federal legislation and other sensitive biodiverse lands and protecting biodiversity, we have to ensure...
Biodiversity...refers to the variability among living organisms. It includes diversity within species...and ecosystems.... Biodiversity is important for its intrinsic value, but also for the priceless ecosystem services that it provides, such as clean water, clean air, maintenance of critical nutrient cycles, flood control, pest control, pollination of crops, compounds for new medicines, and seeds for new crops.
This is taken from a document from Environment Canada; it's not some organization away out there trying to talk about this. It may look as if it doesn't say much, but it says that we do preserve our biodiversity in Canada as we advance in this industry, once again applying that precautionary principle.
Paragraph (d) is self-explanatory. I do not feel and my party does not feel we should be importing feedstock for the biofuel industry in Canada. We heard from witnesses--and the gentleman who talked about canola today felt we can sustain ourselves--that we can provide that feedstock for the biofuel industry in Canada.
If we don't have a clause that prohibits this, then we open up our industry to cheap fuel feedstock coming in, not only from the United States but from all other parts of the world. The southern hemisphere, where we have seen this, has contributed to devastating the agriculture industry and small farmers. This is vitally important. If we have a biofuel industry, let's get it off the ground correctly. Let's ensure our farmers benefit, because if we allow importation, that allows prices to go down because of competition with, for example, subsidized corn from the United States.
I think this is a very practical measure, and it's an integral part of my amendments.
I apologize for taking time. I want to make the point clear. I'm trying to be as concise as possible.
The whole idea of criteria for environmental sustainability of biofuel production in compliance with internationally recognized best practices is important as we embark upon this. I've just been reading a document from the OECD that we conform to international standards. We cannot be seen as a country going in our own direction, maybe following the lead of what's happening south of us and not respecting international standards.
There are concerns. They're saying it is more likely that land use constraints will limit the amount of new land that can be brought into production, leading to a food versus fuel debate. That's the other point we have to address as we look at the whole idea of conforming to international standards. We have to look at what they're saying at the OECD, for example. They're saying other conventional biofuel technologies typically delivered greenhouse gas reductions of less than 40% compared with our fossil fuel alternatives. When such impacts as soil acidification, fertilizer use, biodiversity, and loss of toxicity of agricultural pesticides are taken into account, the overall environmental impacts of ethanol and biodiesel can very easily exceed those of petrol and mineral diesel.
We've heard from Mr. Samson today on the reasons he wants us to be very cautious and wants this bill not to go forward. From the point of view of the environment, what we're proposing is not efficient. In the study he has done, the thick one that I read, the most efficient use for the environment are pellets for energy sources, for example.
We're going to do this, but as we do this, we have to try to meet and conform to international standards. That's why, by having this clause in the bill, we can do that.
Paragraph (f), the last point, is on establishing restrictions on the use of arable land in Canada for biofuel production. I think we could quite comfortably follow the Manitoba model where they've set aside, according to the natural resources minister I talked to, 10% of arable land for biofuels. In other words, farmers can benefit from that by growing crops that are not used for food production.
In conclusion, I will try to generate support, and I am sure everybody will unanimously vote for my amendment, just as there was a full house last night in the House when I was speaking.
Those are the concerns I have. They should be noted. We can do a good bill and introduce those amendments.
