Petition addresses fear about chemicals in imported food
The petition wants to give consumers the right to know where their food originates and what's in it

By Jeffrey Carter, Special to Ontario Farmer, May 8, 2007

Canadians, for the benefit of themselves and their children, should have the right to know what they're eating.

The concern is behind a petition being sent by Ralph Ferguson and five other residents from Southwestern Ontario to Auditor General Sheila Fraser, who is responsible for the office of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development.

"By late June or by September, at the latest, it should be tabled in the House of Commons," the former Lambton-Middlesex MP says.

Ferguson, who served briefly as Canada's agriculture minister, referred to a recent article in the Globe & Mail reporting that cancer is overtaking heart disease as the leading cause of death in Canada. The problem may be linked to a variety of sources, including pesticide residues.

"In a report of the Environment Committee of the House of Commons chaired by the Hon. Charles Caccia, it was noted that 12 chemicals used in food production of other countries were banned in Canada," Ferguson says.

"One only has to walk through most grocery stores to see fruits and vegetables from countries such as the United States, Mexico, Peru and Chile. A few weeks ago, lettuce from California was found to be contaminated with E coli."

Ferguson also points to shipments of milk and milk products - as much as three tanker loads a week - crossing into Ontario from Michigan over the Bluewater Bridge at Sarnia/Port Huron. Those shipments may be coming from cows treated with recombinant Bovine Somatotropin (rBST), which has been banned in Canada.

There's evidence rBST increases the level of insulin growth hormone in milk, Ferguson says. Those increased levels have been associated with cancer, especially in children.

There continues to be strong opposition to the use of rBST in the United States, despite its approval there, Ferguson notes

"It was banned in Canada, not because of concern for children but because it's hard on cows, if you can imagine," he says.

Another possible cause of cancer in Southwestern Ontario can be linked to above-ground nuclear tests in 1957, Ferguson says. Eight times, radioactive clouds traversed the province with radioactivity contaminating the regions food system during heavy rains that summer.

Ferguson's comments were made at a press conference at his home on May 1.
Also speaking at the meeting were Tim Fugard, who was nominated as the federal Sarnia-Lambton Liberal candidate and Liberal activist David Orchard.

"The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has an onus to do proper testing on all this food coming into Canada," Fugard says.

"We need to understand where our food comes and from the quality of that food."

Orchard says labelling needs to be revamped in Canada in order that consumers understand what they're buying. The current system is misleading.

The Saskatchewan farmer also advocates for a return to bilateral trade agreements under World Trade Organization rather than the rules set out under the Free Trade Agreements involving Canada, the United State and countries of the Western Hemisphere.

Some of the farmers attending the press confidence say there can be negative economic repercussions, along with safety and quality issues.

Davis Bryans of Munro Honey in Alvinston says half of Canada honey is currently being supplied by importers. Along with having a price impact, there's a concern related to the pollination of crops.

Peter Geerts, an apple grower near Arkona, says Chinese concentrate is the biggest concern for his industry.

"It's imported...primarily from China. They figure 60 per cent of the juice (sold in Ontario) is from concentrates and there isn't a concentrate manufacturer in Ontario."

Jim McKenzie, a medical practitioner from Sarnia, suggests people concerned about food form alliances across international borders and work with such groups as the Sierra Club.

Along with Ferguson, Lambton and Middlesex residents Davis Bryans, Heather Morwood, Jack Johnson, Graham McLean and Vicki Fisher signed the petition being sent to the Auditor Children.

The Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada (OACC) wishes to thank Ontario Farmer for permission to reproduce this article on our website.

Posted May 2007