After years of deteriorating farm income, mounting debt and ill-designed income stability programs, can life on Canadian farms get worse? It certainly appears so. The government is forecasting that the price of many farm commodities will decline in 2010. And despite a complete overhaul by the Conservative government, farm income programs are causing the same [...]
Archive for the ‘Agriculture and Food’ Category
Time for New Agriculture Policies
Tuesday, August 10th, 2010Monsanto’s Roundup Ready GM Alfalfa Remains Illegal in US
Friday, June 25th, 2010US court rules Environmental Impact Assessments must be carried out to the satisfaction of farmers and consumers
Castlegar, BC – New Democrat Agriculture Critic, Alex Atamanenko (BC Southern Interior), says no matter how you choose to spin it, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that Monsanto’s genetically engineered Roundup Ready Alfalfa will remain illegal [...]
New Democrats Call for National Food Security Policy
Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010 “Food for Thought” consultation with Canadians shows overwhelming demand for leadership
OTTAWA – Canadians are looking to their government for a comprehensive food strategy to protect our food security and sovereignty, says a report released Tuesday by New Democrats.
Over the past two years in public forums in 28 communities across the country, Agriculture Critic Alex [...]
Atamanenko Moves to Ban Horse Meat for Human Consumption
Thursday, June 17th, 2010OTTAWA – New Democrat Agriculture Critic, Alex Atamanenko (BC southern Interior) tabled a Private Members Bill (C-544) yesterday that would effectively shut down the slaughtering of horses for human consumption in Canada.
“The fact is that drugs which are prohibited for use during the life of any animals destined for the human food [...]
Historic NDP GMO Bill Passes Crucial Vote
Thursday, April 15th, 2010Law would protect farmers by ensuring export markets are considered before GMO approval
OTTAWA – A private members bill to protect farmers by calling for an analysis of potential harm to export markets prior to approving new genetically engineered seeds has passed second reading in the House of Commons. Bill C-474, proposed by New Democrat [...]
Background on Bill C-474
Thursday, April 1st, 2010Alex Atamanenko’s Bill C-474 that calls for an export market analysis prior to approving new genetically engineered seeds, is headed for its second hour of debate in the House of Commons today, April 01 at 5:30 PM.
The following Backgrounder is provided in order to help set the record straight on certain information that has [...]
Radio Show Deconstructing Dinner on Bill C-474
Thursday, March 25th, 2010BILL C-474 (PROTECTING FARMERS FROM ECONOMIC HARM OF GE CROPS)
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Deconstructing Dinner has long been at the forefront of covering anything and everything to do with the presence of genetically engineered (GE) foods.
The latest on the issue from Canada’s capital is Bill C-474 - a bill introduced by Member [...]
Genetically Engineered Seeds Harming Farmers’ Exports
Tuesday, March 16th, 2010OTTAWA – Canada’s flax industry is scrambling to repair damage to our export markets because of contamination by unapproved genetically engineered (GE) flax. This problem will reoccur as more genetically engineered crops are approved without rules that consider existing regulations in export markets and the potential negative impacts on trade, says New Democrat [...]
Atamanenko Condemns Deregulation of Grain Industry
Friday, March 12th, 2010Ottawa, ON – Six Assistant Grain Commissioners of the Canada Grain Commission were cut on March 8, 2010 by the President of the Treasury Board. According to Alex Atamanenko, MP for BC Southern Interior and NDP Agriculture Critic, this is part of the overall Conservative strategy to deregulate the grain industry.
“It is no secret [...]
Budget Fails to Address Priorities of Farmers
Friday, March 5th, 2010Ottawa, ON – Alex Atamanenko, MP (BC Southern Interior) NDP Agriculture Critic, says it’s time for the government to get their priorities right. “Instead of substantially addressing the farm income crisis affecting so many other sectors the government has chosen to undermine the grain industry, one of the few sectors that is doing just fine,” [...]