OTTAWA -- A significant number of Canadian NGOs and civil society organizations (CSOs) are refusing to take part in what they refer to as a "fundamentally flawed" consultation set up by the Canadian Biotechnology Advisory Committee (CBAC) secretariat. They believe that public policy should be made by Parliament through legislation, not in closed-door discussions within Cabinet.

"These consultations are a poor substitute for democracy, especially for an important subject such as genetically engineered foods" says Brewster Kneen, Editor of monthly newsletter of food system analysis, the Ram's Horn, "This debate belongs in Parliament. The Government should institute parliamentary hearings and insist on a moratorium on any further releases of GE products until those hearings have taken place."

The little known CBAC will begin a cross-Canada tour, ostensibly to hold a 'discussion' with Canadians about genetically engineered foods. The purpose of CBAC, a committee set up by the 7 ministers currently coordinating biotech issues, is to 'assist the government of Canada in the formulation of public policy on biotechnology.' Its impartiality is suspect, however, as CBAC is housed in the office of the Canadian Biotechnology Secretariat within Industry Canada, an agency whose aim is to promote biotechnology.

So far, 50 NGOs and CSOs from coast to coast have signed a letter, indicating to the Government that they will not participate in CBAC's consultations which they believe could 'legitimize CBAC's wholly inadequate mandate and process, and undermine demands for true democratic processes and widespread public consultation.' The petition is currently being circulated across Canada. These concerns will be tabled in a written submission to CBAC.

Sigatory NGOs and CSOs, concerned that genetically engineered foods have been introduced without proper assessment of their potential hazardous impact on the human, environmental, social, and economic health of this country, state that they are not happy with the fact that these concerns are not reflected in the Canadian Biotechnology Strategy and in the structure of CBAC.

"The basic concerns of Canadians are not reflected in the Canadian Biotechnology Strategy, a document clearly biased towards the industry. These concerns are also not reflected in the composition of CBAC's advisory committee. Virtually all of those nominated by NGOs and CSOs, including prominent and qualified Canadians were rejected," says Nadege Adam, Health Protection Campaigner for the Council of Canadians.

"Since this Government is unwilling to adopt recommendations from the Royal Society of Canada, one has to be skeptical that they would pay much attention to ours," adds Eric Darier, GE campaigner for Greenpeace Canada.

/For further information: Nadege Adam, Council of Canadians, ph: (613) 233-4487, ext. 245, cell: (613) 295-0432; Eric Darier, Greenpeace, ph: (514) 933-0021, cell: (514) 240-6497, and Brewster Kneen, ph: (250) 675-4866

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