[getsmart-l] Why are we so embarrassed of our achievements we will let almost anything claim to be a Product of Canada?

[John O'Gorman]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Grant Robertson NFU Ontario Coordinator 
To: National Farmers Union- Ontario Commentary 
Sent: Tuesday, April 15, 2008 12:33 PM
Subject: National Farmers Union Ontario Commentary - Why are we so embarrassed of our achievements we will let almost anything claim to be a Product of Canada?


 

Why are we so embarrassed of our achievements we will let almost anything claim to be a Product of Canada?

 

A commentary for the National Farmers Union-Ontario

By Grant Robertson

 

Simply put the National Farmers Union is a doing organization.  The NFU does not just talk about problems, the NFU goes out there and does what it can to highlight the problem and put forward workable solutions.  A case in point is the issue of "Product of Canada" labeling.  Recently other organizations have joined the NFU call for clearer labeling on food products on Canada's grocery store shelves.  Some though want to continue to study the issues involved.  The NFU has been there, done that on "Product of Canada" labeling and in fact did it a number of years ago.  It is nice to see some other organizations begin to speak up for Canadian farmers but they still have a long way to go in actually implementing meaningful change on the deceptive nature of "Product of Canada" labeling.  We need action now.

 

A quick review for those who may not understand the current rules around what can be labeled a product of Canada: Currently only 51 per cent of the cost of getting that product on the shelf has to have taken place in Canada, so that can mean the container, not just the food.  In other words, under our current regulations a food product you pick up on your grocery store shelf that has the words "Product of Canada" may in fact not contain a single item grown in Canada.  The regulations get even worse when dealing with terms like "Canada Fancy Grade" amongst others.  In the end these terms are virtually meaningless when referring to where a product originated.  The Canadian Food Inspection Agency food labelling guide actually provides this example among others: "Cherries from France imported to Canada in bulk, repackaged and graded in a registered establishment must be marked 'CANADA CHOICE"  In other words regulations have been created that make the manipulation of the average shopper mandatory.  What is not mandatory is identifying where the product comes from, especially if it is primarily a Canadian product.  It is a level of weirdness in food labelling that best belongs in an old Twilight Zone television show.

 

On April 8th, NFU National Youth President, Nigel Smith, and I appeared in Ottawa to give evidence to the Standing Committee on Agriculture on the issue of "Product of Canada" labeling.  As representatives of the farmer members of the NFU our message was clear and unequivocal.  Any product that carries a maple leaf or references Canada should contain food grown by Canada's farmers.  Period.  Enough of these manipulative rules that penalize farmers, benefit non-Canadian industry and deliberately confuse consumers who are attempting to support Canadian farmers 

 

Rather than advocating voluntary regulations that will not really change anything, the NFU was joined by Quebec farm organizations in calling for much more stringent rules.  The NFU addressed the voluntary/mandatory labeling divide this way:  "If you want to get serious about having clear labeling that means something for consumers and farmers, there are two routes.  If we go for an optional label, then [Canada] must enforce our food safety, environmental, labour and other standards at the border before a product is allowed in. Without that enforcement, it's meaningless.  The other route is to make it mandatory that the origin of the foodstuffs be on the package label. Only food that is produced by Canadian farmers should be allowed to be called 'Product of Canada'."  

 

In response to questions NFU officials concluded with the following observation:  Canadians, in their shopping choices, try to purchase products grown by Canada's family farmers because they want to support this nation's farmers. Canadian farmers produce some of safest, highest quality food in the world.    It is time to stop being embarrassed by what we Canadians achieve and celebrate it instead.

 

 

 

Grant Robertson is a senior official with the National Farmers Union-Ontario and a National Board Member of the NFU. Grant and his family farm near Paisley, Ontario.  The author can be contacted at grant at bmts.com

If you have been forwarded this commentary and would like to be added to the distribution list please send an email to grant at bmts.com with "subscribe" in the subject line. 

 
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