OTTAWA - Bill C-287 was today defeated 126-91 in the House of Commons, but succeeded in showing deep divisions within the governing Liberals. The bill would have required labels to be put on all genetically engineered food.

"This is a slap in the face to the 95% of Canadians who believe they have a right to know what they are eating," said Greenpeace genetic engineering campaigner Holly Penfound. "Canadians have been crystal clear on this. They want mandatory labeling of GE food. And they expected their MPs to vote for it."

Penfound praised the 34 Liberal backbenchers who supported the bill: "That so many Liberals voted Yes on Bill C-287 shows how divided the government is. We congratulate the Liberals who listened to their constituents and put the rest of them on notice that we expect them to follow suit."

Penfound said Health Minister Allan Rock's position on the bill was a major disappointment. Rock did not vote for C-287, despite saying he supported mandatory labelling.

"Yet again, it's all talk, no action from Allan Rock," she said. "He's been minister for four years, then appears to support mandatory labelling and now expects support for saying a committee will study labelling GE food.

"This is a delaying tactic that will help weak, voluntary labelling take effect. Allan Rock is no friend of mandatory labelling and no friend of the 95% of Canadians who demand it," she said. "We expected more leadership from someone who wants to be prime minister."

Bill C-287 was introduced by Liberal MP Charles Caccia. It was also supported by the Bloc Québécois, the NDP and most of the Conservative coalition.

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