September 2, 2010
Take Action / Take Action / Act Now!
Act Now!
Take Action this fall!
New! Write a new letter to your MP instantly by clicking here!
Update August 30, 2010: The final vote on Bill C-474 will likely happen in December. Agriculture Committee hearings on the Bill will re-start in October. Your actions this fall are important and will make the difference.
This fall you can take action in your community:
- Collect signatures on the petition in your area and send them to your MP.
- Gather some friends together and request to meet with your MP.
- Catch your MP at a local event and ask them about Bill C-474.
The "Lobby Your MP" kit is here!:
Search for your MP at www.parl.gc.ca
Update
The House of Commons Agriculture Committee hearings on Bill C-474 started in June and then broke for the summer - June 7, alfalfa producers testified in strong support of Bill C-474. Hearings should start again in October.
“Bill C-474 is the first step in offering some protection in the future for Canadian family farms. Market acceptance must be made part of the evaluation process and incorporated into the Seeds Regulation Act.” - Kelvin Einarson, Director and Secretary Treasurer, Manitoba Forage Seed Association Inc.
- Click here to read more quotes from the alfalfa producers about why they need Bill C-474.
- Read the transcript from June 2 here.
What is next for the Bill?
The House of Commons has broken for the Summer, resuming in September. The Agriculture Committee is obliged to hold hearings on Bill C-474 within a specified time frame so we can expect hearings in October. There could be many hearings because a lot of groups have requested to testify. When the hearings are over a final vote will be called, probably in December - and your action will be needed!
The biotech industry is lobbying hard to stop Bill C-474.
What is Bill C-474?
Bill C-474 would support Canadian farmers by requiring that “an analysis of potential harm to export markets be conducted before the sale of any new genetically engineered seed is permitted.”
This Bill is a critical opportunity to stop dangerous GE crops. Add your voice now!
Bill C-474 begins a real debate over the impacts of GE crops. If the Bill is passed it would stop GE wheat and GE alfalfa.
The Bill was introduced by Alex Atamanenko, the NDP Agriculture Critic and MP for British Columbia Southern Interior.
More info and analysis below...
Your actions have already made a difference! MPs voted for Bill C-474 in April! The final vote will be in the Fall.
Click here to find out how your MP voted on April 14! MPs voted yes to send the Bill for study at the Agriculture Committee. Write to say thanks or express your displeasure. Let your MP know that you are watching! The biotech industry doubled their lobbying against Bill C-474 and the industry association CropLife was so worried that they copied CBAN's MP action. But thanks to your action, MPs listened to you instead of the biotech industry! Monsanto is now campaigning hard against the Bill. Your action will be needed through the summer and in September and October 2010 especially.
More Actions
Now is the time to act to protect farming in Canada from GE crops.
CBAN Coordinator Lucy Sharratt speaks at a Press Conference on Parliament Hill with Maureen Bostock from the National Farmers Union and NDP MPs Alex Atamanenko and Malcolm Allen
- Write to your MP: and thank them for their vote - or express your displeasure. You can see here how your MP voted!
- Write a letter to members of the Agriculture Committee who will now debate the Bill (free postage).
- Write a letter to the Liberal leader from this website and ask the Party to take a stand.
- Collect signatures on the petition in your riding and bring them or send them to your MP before May 30.
- Send the congratulations note around by email.
- Distribute this flyer on Bill C-474.
- Link to CBAN on facebook!
- Take action in the campaign against GE alfalfa.
- Donate today to support the campaign!
More Information
- "Bill C-474 Could Decide the Future of GM Crops", Common Ground Magazine
- Bill C-474 is one line to require that “an analysis of potential harm to export markets be conducted before the sale of any new genetically engineered seed is permitted.” Click here for Bill C-474 official text.
- Radio show reports on the Bill C-474 vote: Click here to listen to how your actions changed the debate!
- April 15, 2010 - CBAN Press Release: MPs listen to Canadians ahead of industry on GM Crops: Groups applaud MPs for moving Bill C-474 to Committee for study
- April 15, 2010 - National Farmers Union: Passage of C-474 Important Victory for Farmers
- Listen: great radio show about Bill C-474 from Deconstructing Dinner! : What are MPs saying about the Bill? Why is the Bill important?
- CBAN's Opinion piece on Bill C-474
- The April 1 debate in Parliament! - official transcript.
- CBAN's unofficial quick notes from the April 1 debate.
- Official debate transcript from March 17.
Some Liberal MPs were still repeating the wrong information that GE “Triffid” flax was never commercially approved in Canada. This is wrong. Triffid was approved for commercialization via variety registration in 1996, making the seeds legal to sell in Canada. Variety registration remained until April 1, 2001 when it was removed at the behest of flax farmers. Industry is trying to undermine the arguments for Bill C-474. Click here for more info on Triffid flax including info that corrects your Liberal MP.
March 16: The National Farmers Union urges Parliamentarians and all Canadians to support Bill C-474.
Press Release - March 16, 2010:
GE Crops: Parliament to debate the need for export market acceptance before commercial release
Comments from March 16 Press Conference, NFU and CBAN.
This Bill is really important because, as we know from experience, the introduction of new genetically engineered (GE) crops can cause economic hardship to farmers.
Farmers are at risk when GE crops are commercialized in Canada without also being first approved in our major export markets.
Flax farmers in Canada are now paying a heavy price because of this exact problem. Late last year, Canadian flax exports were discovered contaminated with a GE flax that is not approved in Europe or in any of our other export markets (except the U.S.). Flax farmers actually foresaw that GE contamination or even the threat of contamination would close their export markets. That's why they took steps in 2001 to remove GE flax from the market. Despite this measure, flax farmers were not protected. The GE flax contamination closed our export markets in 2009. It has created market uncertainty and depressed prices. Farmers are also paying for testing and cleanup and may be required to abandon their own farm-saved flax seed and buy certified seed instead. These costs are an unnecessary and preventable burden. Click here for more information on the flax contamination crisis.
We cannot allow our export markets to close like this again.
It is the government’s responsibility to protect Canadian farmers from predictable problems caused by the introduction of new GE crops that have not yet been regulated in our export markets.
Contact us for more action, information and your questions.
