Evidence of meeting #51 for Agriculture and Agri-Food in the 40th Parliament, 3rd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was canola.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
Regarding pest control products, is it true that organic farmers are allowed to utilize things like boric acid, garden-grade diatomaceous, and some of these things that—
Past President, Canadian Organic Growers
I'm not really up on some of those substances, but some use certain products that are accepted in the organic permitted substances. But I'm not an expert on permitted substances.
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
That's fine, but I think this is something people need to know, because some of these substances are actually quite toxic, and they're toxic in the earth.
Past President, Canadian Organic Growers
You'd have to take that up with whoever, but the organic substances are allowed. They're on the OMRI list, or whatever, and they've been tested.
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
But we're talking about consumer knowledge, and consumers should have the knowledge for these things.
Is it true that organic farmers are allowed to spray crops with bacterial spores? Are you up on that?
Past President, Canadian Organic Growers
I'm not up on that either, but with some they would. You can use certain things, but some things you can't.
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
Some of these bacterial spores have been known to cause damage to human cells.
Past President, Canadian Organic Growers
You'd have to be more specific, and then I'd have to research it and get an answer for you.
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
Maybe we can get a little more specific when we don't have only five minutes.
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
The other thing I actually would like to ask is this. Is it true that in the last several years there have been at least two E. coli outbreaks in the United States of America that have been traced back to organic strawberries or organic lettuce?
Past President, Canadian Organic Growers
I can't make a comment, other than to say there was one in California, and there was a peanut factory in North Carolina where there was a salmonella outbreak, and it was a certified organic operation. But they're human. This is human. Organic standards aren't necessarily the answer to all those things. Most of those processors would still have HACCP and other standards that they go by. So you can't point to organic standards and say that is the cause of the problem.
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
I'm not trying to demonize organic here. I'm simply trying to say that there is another side to the story, and when we're talking about consumer knowledge, consumers should be made aware of all of it.
Thank you very much for your time, gentlemen.
Past President, Canadian Organic Growers
There are off-farm jobs all over the place, so something is wrong with this picture. A guy with a million-dollar debt and an operating loan and cashflow situation shouldn't have to get an off-farm job, and his wife—
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
I don't disagree with you on that, sir, but your comments led towards believing that organic was the answer to that. First, my guys don't go hat in hand to the government, and second—
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Larry Miller
Okay. Thank you.
I want to thank our witnesses for coming here today. At some point a study will be prepared and will come before the committee and hopefully be passed and presented before Parliament. At that time, I'm sure you'll be able to get a copy of it.
Thanks again for being here.
The meeting is adjourned.