Bill C-474 defeated 178 to 98 in House of Commons

Bill C-474 was defeated by a vote of 178 to 98 this evening in the House of Commons.  The private member's bill, introduced by NDP MP and Agriculture Critic Alex Atamanenko, would have restricted the approval of GM-crops in Canada.  The government would have been required to review possible export implications before granting approval.  Without support from either the Conservatives or the Liberals, the bill was doomed in the vote. 

GMO exportability bill back in Commons Wednesday | Grain News

A vote is expected today on a private members' bill to block federal approval of GMO seeds. The bill is not expected to become law as neither the Conservative government nor the Liberals are expected to support it.

Read the Grain News article on the bill at: GMO exportability bill back in Commons Wednesday.

GM Seeds Bill passes second reading, referred to committee

The private member's bill introduced by Federal NDP Agriculture Critic Alex Atamanenko that would tighten regulations surrounding the sale of genetically engineered seeds on the world market has passed second reading. If passed into law, the CFIA would be required to analyze the potential harm to export markets "before the sale of any new genetically engineered seed is permitted".  The bill has now been sent on for review by the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food:

Debates of April 14th, 2010

5:55 p.m.

The House resumed from April 1 consideration of the motion that Bill C-474, An Act respecting the Seeds Regulations (analysis of potential harm), be read the second time and referred to a committee.

5:55 p.m.  Liberal   The Speaker Peter Milliken

The House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion at second reading stage of Bill C-474 under private members' business.

(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)

6:05 p.m.  Liberal   The Speaker Peter Milliken

I declare the motion carried. Accordingly, the bill stands referred to the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food.

Better Farming is reporting that the Grain Farmers of Ontario are protesting the bill, saying that the proposed bill will create more red tape and reduce science based evaluation in the approval process.  Read the Better Farming article at: Grain growers protest seed bill.

Mr. Atamanenko has reproduced the entire debate on the bill on March 17, 2010 on his website: Debate on Bill C-474.

Private Member's Bill targets GM crop danger to export markets

CBC News - Manitoba - Genetically modified flax target of bill

Federal NDP Agriculture Critic Alex Atamanenko has presented a private member's bill to Parliament that would tighten regulations surrounding the sale of genetically engineered seeds on the world market. If passed, the CFIA would be required to analyze the potential harm to export markets "before the sale of any new genetically engineered seed is permitted".  First reading of the bill took place on March 30, 2010, and debate on the bill is set for next Wednesday.

Read Bill C-474 at: An Act respecting the Seeds Regulations (analysis of potential harm).

Atamenenko earlier proposed a bill to ban the use of terminator seeds.  Bill C-353 bore the official name, "An Act to prohibit the release, sale, importation and use of seeds incorporating or altered by variety-genetic use restriction technologies (V-GURTs), also called “terminator technologies”, and to make a consequential amendment to another Act".

Read Bill C-353 at: Terminator Seeds Ban Act.