Hélène Alarie

[Supply, November 16th, 1999]

Madam Speaker, I have carefully listened to the words of my colleague, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, and to his responses to questions.

In his speech he said that commodity prices are low because there has been over-production, and that the farmers are not growing crops that reflect the realities of the marketplace.

The government is not following the realities of the marketplace either with its subsidies. What are we to do when American or European competitors receive $2.50 to Canadian farmers' $1.00?

What are we to do when total agricultural support policies are $140 per capita in Canada, as compared to $360 in the United States and $381 in Europe?

That too is reality. I also wonder, if there is an overproduction of agricultural products, what options besides diversification might be proposed to farmers to help them operate according to supply and demand.

[Genetically Modified Foods, November 4th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, this morning I introduced a bill which would make it mandatory to label genetically modified foods.

I did so because of my belief that consumers are entitled to be properly informed about what they are eating.

Does the Minister of Agriculture intend to offer people the choice about what they do and do not want to eat, by making it mandatory to label genetically modified foods?

[Food And Drugs Act, November 4th, 1999]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-309, an act to amend the Food and Drugs Act (mandatory labelling for genetically modified foods).

Mr. Speaker, the genetically modified food industry is growing rapidly. More and more such products are turning up in our shopping baskets. I would humbly submit that consumers are entitled to know the contents of the food on their plates.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

[Canadian Tourism Commission Act, November 2nd, 1999]

We are not talking peanuts.

[Genetically Modified Foods, November 2nd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Health claims that genetically modified foods are absolutely safe. But his department is content to endorse private sector studies, without conducting its own research, and does not have studies on the long term effects of GMOs on health.

How can the minister guarantee the independence and accuracy of his department's expertise when, under the cost recovery policy, the bulk of the funding for its services come from the private sector?

[Genetically Modified Foods, October 29th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, does the Minister of Health intend to respond to the concerns expressed by his deputy minister and give his officials the appropriate resources to enable them to do their work?

[Genetically Modified Foods, October 29th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, last Tuesday in the House, the Minister of Health said that genetically modified foods were all thoroughly examined by a team of experts.

How can the minister say such a thing when his deputy minister, David A. Dodge, said exactly the opposite before a Senate committee and when two employees of his department and the Canadian food inspection agency said on Le Point that such tests are not performed?

[Genetically Modified Foods, October 27th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, in a recent article in the respected magazine Nature , three British scientists were quoted as saying that governments, like the Canadian government, that approved genetically modified foods simply because they were similar to traditional ones, were taking a simplistic and not very safe approach.

Since even the pro-biotechnology scientists are saying that it would be better to look more closely into the effects of genetically modified foods, is the minister going to take the necessary steps?

[Genetically Modified Foods, October 26th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, last week the newspapers carried an Agriculture and Agri-food Canada advertisement looking for a geneticist to plan, set up and direct a transgenic products program.

My question is for the Minister of Agriculture. Are we to take this job advertisement for someone to plan, set up and direct a program for genetically modified food products as confirmation that such a program does not exist within his department at the present time?

[Genetically Altered Foods, October 25th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, is the minister prepared to review his policy on assessing GMOs, genetically modified organisms, in response to the concerns of scientists and the public at large?