national farmers union

GANANOQUE, Ont.-"The farmers that the National Farmers Union represents oppose the gutting of Bill C-32, the Canadian Environmental Protection Act but we won't get a chance to say why," said NFU Region 3 (Ontario) Coordinator Peter Dowling. He continued: "The government has hamstrung the Senate's review by cutting short the time for public hearings. The NFU was planning on making a presentation but with this short time frame, we will be unable to do so."

"Senators and MPs are pushing Bill C-32 through the required readings far too quickly. The Bill has 356 clauses yet senators have set aside just two days for their clause-by-clause analysis. Senate hearings on this complex and important bill will be crammed into just a few days," said Dowling.

Dowling noted that swift passage is all the more inappropriate given the controversy surrounding the Bill. Bowing to industry pressure, MPs removed sections previously added by a Commons Committee that would:

• guarantee the phase out of Canada's most harmful pollutants;
• ensure that genetically-engineered products are thoroughly tested; and
• require the government to follow a "precautionary principle" on environmental matters.

"The House of Commons Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable development added the critical protections to Bill C-32. MPs, on third reading of the Bill in the House, and under pressure from the chemical industry lobby, removed those sections. This effectively gutted the Bill. Clearly, a Bill which contradicts the wisdom of the MPs in the Committee with the most detailed knowledge of the issues in question needs careful and thorough reconsideration," said Dowling.

"The NFU appreciated the role that the Senate played in getting bovine growth hormone banned earlier this year. This was another chance for the same type of public participation. Unfortunately, the government has crammed the examination of this bill into a few weeks during the busiest time for farmers," concluded Dowling.

The NFU has worked for 30 years for policies and legislation which protects the environment and which sustains agricultural lands for future generations. The NFU has promoted measures to protect streams, control soil erosion, and find alternatives to agricultural chemicals.

For More Information:

• Peter Dowling, NFU Region 3 (Ontario) Coordinator: (613) 546-0869
  
• Darrin Qualman, Executive Secretary: (306) 652-9465