Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the response made by the parliamentary secretary. However I must indicate my disappointment that little has changed in the mind of the government with respect to the safety of irradiated food.
The concern of Canadians is a legitimate one. This food is being moved forward and the process for integration into our markets is rapidly at hand. Yet there is no indication that the government is prepared to carry out independent scientific studies of its own to assess the risk identified by scientists in recent times.
This is not an issue that can be dismissed easily. It is not one that can be left to international studies. It is one that the government must come to grips with. In fact it must be proactive and convince Canadians that it has taken every step necessary to ensure that the food we eat is safe beyond a reasonable doubt.
The government can do no less than make those assurances.