The Rural Voice, 2004-08, Page 9National Farmers Union -Ontario NEWSLETTER
Ontario Office: R.R. 2, Godfrey, ON KOH 1TO - Phone: 613-273-5545
Email: nfuo@rideau.net Website: www.nfu.ca/on
Voice of family farms heard at Provincial meat inspection review
The National Farmers Union
(NFU) believes Andrew Mitchell's
appointment as Minister of
Agriculture and Agri -Food offers a
fresh opportunity to implement
policies that alleviate the farm
income crisis.
"It's essential that the new
minister of agriculture focus on
raising the net incomes of family
farmers across the country," said
NFU President Stewart Wells. "There
are a number of very pressing issues
that need to be dealt with
immediately. The livestock sector
is facing serious problems,
orderly marketing systems are under
attack at the World Trade
Organization (WTO) negotiations,
and net farm income is at its lowest
level since the Great Depression.
These issues must be tackled right
away."
While Prime Minister Martin has
indicated Parliament will be recalled
October 4, Wells said action on
the agriculture front cannot wait till
then.
Wells added that the appointment
of Wayne Easter to the post of
Parliamentary Secretary to the
Minister of Agriculture and Agri -
Food is a positive move. Easter's
extensive experience and wide
knowledge of farm issues across the
country should help Mitchell hit the
ground running, he said.
Wells said while he was
disappointed Tony Valeri was
removed from the Transport
portfolio. he believes it should not
make any difference to the federal
government's commitment to transfer
ownership of 13,000 grain hopper
cars to -the Farmer Rail Car Coalition.
"Tony Valeri had a good working
relationship with the Coalition, and
we are hopeful the new minister, Jean
Lapierre, will also be committed to
helping western farmers own a major
asset in, the rail transportation
system."
The NFU President said he was
pleased to see Reg Alcock
reappointed Minister Responsible for
the Canadian Wheat Board. "It's
important to have a strong Minister
who is committed to the principles of
orderly marketing," he said.
"Particularly when the Wheat Board
is under constant attack from both the
United States and the European
Union at the WTO talks."0
So, who really won the Schmeiser Decision?
Ann Clark, University of Guelph Professor, spoke to the Perth Oxford Local of the National Farmers Union on June
10, 2004 regarding the Supreme Court decision in favour of Monsanto against the Saskatchewan farmer Perc>
Schmeiser. The Supreme Court ruled that Monsanto owned the patent on the gene which provides resistance to
Roundup. This ruling essentially gives Monsanto the right to take action against Canadian farmers on whole plant,
contaminated with the patented gene despite the fact that Canadian Patent Act does not allow patenting of higher life
forms such as plants. Monsanto was not given any financial claim against the Schmeisers except for the seed actually
containing the patented gene and each party covered their own court costs. In theory,. the judges made every Canadian
farmer who does not have a licensing agreement with Monsanto responsible for notifying the company if their seed
contains the patented gene, even if the gene is present as a result of cross-pollination.
The situation could become ludicrous because the only way an ordinary farmer would know whether the seed had the
patented gene would be to spray all the plants with Roundup which would kill the conventional plants. And of course.
organic farmers would not be spraying with any herbicides such as Roundup.
Professor Clark says that Monsanto won the right to protect its patent but weakened its position by losing the right to
financial compensation. And even more importantly, the company's behaviour towards Percy Schmeiser and other
farmers has been exposed to the world resulting in public calls for changes to legislation in order to protect farmers who
wish to be GM -free from contamination by Monsanto's patented gene and from associated threats to biodiversity and
property rights.0
— Fr, ,,,, / !' 1.0 \ ,
For information on local meetings contact the following:
Bruce Local - Mathilda Andres 519-368-5675
Huron Local - Stephen Miller 519-236-4958
Grey Local - Bev Schenk 519-799-5584
Perth Oxford Local - Ann Slater 519-349-2448
AUGUST 2004 5