Evidence of meeting #71 for Agriculture and Agri-Food in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was llp.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Coordinator, Canadian Biotechnology Action Network
I think I know which column you're referring to. I know which issue.
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Wild Rose, AB
The column indicated that there are about three billion people who depend on rice as their staple food, with 10% being at risk for vitamin A deficiency, which according to the World Health Organization causes 250,000 to as many as 500,000 children to go blind each year.
Despite these statistics, anti-GMO activists, including some of your organization's members, were able to delay the approval of GM golden rice, which includes elevated levels of vitamin A, from being grown in the Philippines.
Are you aware of that situation?
Coordinator, Canadian Biotechnology Action Network
Yes. Thank you for asking.
This is—
Conservative
Coordinator, Canadian Biotechnology Action Network
I do need to tell you that we actually haven't delayed, no group has delayed, the approval of the golden rice.
Conservative
Coordinator, Canadian Biotechnology Action Network
The facts are that the international rights—
Conservative
Coordinator, Canadian Biotechnology Action Network
I need to provide you with the facts.
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Wild Rose, AB
I'll let you provide that, but I want to ask another question and then you can provide your answer to—
Liberal
Frank Valeriote Liberal Guelph, ON
Mr. Speaker, on a point of order, I have to object.
Mr. Richards is continuing his effort to badger witnesses and not let them answer questions. He places questions before them that are out of context. Each of these witnesses has a right to respond. I think he is refusing to allow them to do that.
I would ask you to let him give the witness time to respond.
Conservative
Randy Hoback Conservative Prince Albert, SK
He has his five minutes. He can handle his five minutes whichever way he sees fit. I don't see the reason why Mr. Valeriote would want to be making a point of order in this fashion. This is something that's quite common.
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
I actually support Mr. Valeriote's decision to give Mr. Richards more time.
Conservative
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
It's not a point of order.
I will ask Mr. Richards to complete his questioning so our witnesses can provide an answer.
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Wild Rose, AB
Thanks, Mr. Chair.
I do have lots of questions I want to get in, so I have to use it as wisely as I can.
I believe what this does is to underscore the detrimental effects that anti-GM activism can have. I think fearmongering campaigns like that can make the seed approval process extremely costly, which can shut out small companies from competing. It can also deprive third world countries of new technology that could help them prevent poverty, starvation, and malnutrition.
I realize that your organization opposes the use of GMO products in agriculture. That's understood; we get that.
However, I have to ask, do you not agree there is a possibility that GM products could benefit humanity when there are malnourished children who are going blind and are dying in developing countries around the world?
Coordinator, Canadian Biotechnology Action Network
Vitamin A deficiency is a very serious problem. Over $100 million has been spent developing golden rice. Golden rice is not ready for the market. The International Rice Research Institute, just a few weeks ago, published a statement to clarify and make sure it's understood that golden rice is at least two years away from any possible approval. The data is not in that the vitamin A is metabolized—
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Wild Rose, AB
Sorry, I have to cut you off. I know that some people won't like this, but I must because I only have so much time.
I asked a very specific question. Do you not agree that GM products could possibly benefit humanity when we have malnourished children who are going blind and are dying in developing countries around the world?
Coordinator, Canadian Biotechnology Action Network
If GM products could work as they are promised to work, then there may be a benefit. We don't see that from vitamin A rice. It does not yet exist.
NDP
Malcolm Allen NDP Welland, ON
Thank you, Chair.
Unlike my friend, if I have a question, I actually am looking for an answer. If I have a statement, I will just say I have a statement.
Mr. Sharratt, if you want to respond to any piece of the statement that was just, I'd be pleased to let you go ahead. Or, you can say no, thank you, in which case I'll move on to the actual questions that I have.
If you want to take a moment to respond to bits and pieces of what you heard over there, feel free to do that.
Coordinator, Canadian Biotechnology Action Network
No, thank you. That's fine.