The
Genetically Engineered Free Kootenays Society proposed to Castlegar city
council to pass a resolution to make Castlegar a genetically engineered-food
free zone.
The
presenters, Kim Charlesworth and Jon Steinman, explained to council a vast
majority of genetically engineered (G.E) crops currently commercialized are
designed to be resistant to an herbicide which is also developed by the same
company who developed the seed.
"A
farmer signs a contract with a company to purchase their seed and in order for
the seed to be effective, they are also required to purchase a chemical
herbicide produced by the same company. It is this intensive use of off-farm
inputs that has, among other reasons, driven the cost of farming so high that
farming has become such a difficult business to be in today," said
Charlesworth.
She
added the GE Free Kootenays campaign is not aiming to eliminate the presence of
GE ingredients on grocery store shelves, but simply to remain free of plants
and trees that are genetically modified.
"The
GE Free Kootenays campaign is therefore calling on municipal and regional
governments to pass a resolution that sends a message to people within and
outside the region that GE plants and trees are not welcome," Charlesworth
said.
Council
tabled the motion until further notice as they did not feel they knew enough
about the issue to make a conscious decision.
"What
about the farmer who chooses to grow GE modified canola? Doesn't he have
choice?" asked councillor Russ Hearne.
Steinman
responded by saying the campaign is farmer friendly and the first step of the
campaign is to bring farmers alternatives so they can make money off the land.
Councillor
Gordon Turner wondered how a GE free zone could be enforced.
Charlesworth
explained to Turner the campaign was not asking for a bylaw, but simply for a
resolution, which is not a bylaw or is not legally binding.
Councillor
Deb McIntosh said although the presenters had given a lot of information, she
could not support the motion because she did not know enough about the issue.
No
date was set for when the issue would pop-up on the agenda again.