Index of answers to questions posed by the S.E.N.S. at an all-candidates' forum.
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Background on policy positions: http://www.greenparty.ca/en/news/backgrounders [1]
All Green Party policy: http://www.greenparty.ca/en/our-vision [2]
If elected as MP for the North Okanagan-Shuswap I would advocate [for] a rigorous review of the peer-reviewed literature on Roundup by the appropriate departments, with an eye to recommendations supporting a ban. One MP can do that.
Passing a countrywide ban like in the Netherlands only becomes possible in a minority government where Greens hold the balance of power, and is considered important enough by the Green caucus to horse trade with the minority government for. I can advocate [for] that as well.
The Liberal platform for Real Change for Canada’s environment and economy can be found in the backgrounder at: a-new-plan-for-canadas-environment-and-economy.pdf.
As an environmentalist who has been engaged in a number of initiatives in the riding, I am pleased with the platform. It is both specific and “doable” and has received significant support. I urge everyone who is concerned about the environment to read the platform.
Recently the Dutch parliament voted to ban the sale and use of glyphosate-based herbicides for non-commercial use in the country. That means that people will no longer be able to spray RoundUp on their lawns and gardens and instead will have to find another means of pest control. However, the ban in the Netherlands does not apply to agricultural use.
I am aware of, and concerned by, the study by the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer which analyzed data from studies that have been conducted on the glyphosate for the past couple of decades.
All government decisions must be based on sound science, including decisions on the use of glyphosate in commercial and non-commercial applications.
A Liberal government would:
On a related matter, concerns have been raised by consumers and some of Canada’s trading partners about cross-contamination of GMOs with non-GMO and organic crops, threatening the survival of the latter. The effects of cross-contamination on the survival of non-GMO and organic crops must be addressed in a manner that effectively balances the needs of farmers, trading partners and consumers.
A Liberal government would place a moratorium on the approval of Roundup-Ready Alfalfa until a comprehensive study is completed on its impact on non-GMO and organic strains.
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This is a critical piece of building a resilient community. Events half a world away can have measurable impacts on our food supply in Canada. Transportation adds to the carbon footprint of the food itself. It only makes sense to grow close to where the food will be consumed.
Transforming agriculture in many cases means rolling back some of the current regulations that favor industrial scale producers over local farmers. Changing this will require cooperation with the provinces, as much of the current restrictive legislation falls within their sphere of responsibility.
Part of the transformation of our system needs to be social. People can do this now. Volunteering at community gardens, building neighborhood barter networks, and supporting local producers via CSA box programs or at the farmer's market, are happening now. Working locally with all involved is an expectation that I have of my MP and I would certainly do my best to advocate [for] and support a transition to a stronger local food economy here in the North Okanagan-Shuswap if I were the person in that role.
Here is a direct quote from Vision Green:
"The Green Party approach to Canadian agriculture policies is clear: reduce the dependence on chemical inputs, rebuild and protect natural soil fertility, value quality produce and support local economies, reduce waste, increase the number of farm families, and invest in climate adaptation strategies for Canadian agriculture."
As a life-long resident of the riding and having acted as a lawyer for many farmers and ranchers in the area, I am aware of the challenges faced by local producers.
It comes down to a question of food security which has not been a priority of the Harper government. Not only is Canada the only nation in the developed world without a national food strategy, the Harper Conservatives have made deep cuts to food inspection and food safety. Without leadership from the top, there will come a time when Canadians can’t trust the food that’s in grocery store shelves.
During the last election, the Liberal Party presented Canadians with a comprehensive food policy for Canada that would increase access to healthy, affordable food, while also building social and economic opportunities in rural Canada. A Liberal government would work consultitavely with community groups, provincial and territorial governments, Aboriginal organizations and producers to develop and implement a national food policy.
Recently Mr. Trudeau has re-affirmed a Liberal government’s support for supply management and will ensure that any future trade deals do not erode the present regime.
As MP I would work to foster small-scale farming. I envision this riding becoming better known for its local food production. We have a number of very high quality agricultural producers already leading the way. We need a champion in Ottawa.
The NDP launched a comprehensive pan-Canadian food and agriculture strategy in 2011 called “Everybody Eats”.
The strategy comes out of a 2011 election platform and is the culmination of three years of outreach and consultations with farmers and stakeholders. It is the first food strategy to be released by any federal political party.
The NDP strategy puts forward practical policies to ensure that everyone eats well (is food secure), that our agricultural communities are sustainable for generations to come, and that Canadian products find growing markets at home and abroad. We start from the principle that food is a fundamental human right.
Working with the provinces and territories, our strategy lays out a vision to strengthen our food system and support local food production in the promotion of food sovereignty.
Conservatives are taking our agricultural sector for granted and are not taking leadership when it comes to health, sustainability, and transparency in our food production system.
The NDP will:
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In order to maintain health and resilience, forests must be diverse.
The best path to an economically and environmentally sustainable forestry sector requires getting as much value as possible from our forests, something that is enhanced by the diversity that is only found in the natural forests that arise to fill the specific ecological niches in this country. Shipping raw logs, supporting monoculture in replanting and sacrificing value add industries in trade deals are three things we currently do that do not support diversity, both in our forests and in our economy.
The boreal is under attack, primarily due to climate change. Pine beetle and wildfire are two consequences of a warming planet. Reducing emissions is the only path to protecting this forest.
The Green policy platform is thin on specifics on this issue. It leaves considerable latitude for an MP to work with First Nations, the communities involved, and provincial and territory governments towards solutions that protect ecosystem integrity and biodiversity, while enhancing local social and economic initiatives.
Forest management is under provincial jurisdiction. However, as with other environmental challenges under the jurisdiction of the Provinces, the Federal government must be prepared to sit down with First Ministers to work together. History has shown that Canada works best when all orders of government work together to solve problems that matter to Canadians.
The Federal government has a role to play in innovation and competiveness and securing access to international markets. As we have seen in forestry and other sectors, markets are demanding environmental stewardship.
Canada’s natural resource sectors can be world leaders in innovation and sustainability – and the federal government can help. We will invest $200 million more annually to create sector-specific strategies that support innovation and clean technologies in the fisheries, mining, energy, agricultural and forestry sectors. These strategies will be developed in collaboration with the private sector, government, and research institutions, with the objective of producing real innovations that can be deployed in our natural resources sectors, commercialized, brought to scale, and exported.
A Liberal government will work to better protect Canada’s endangered species. This means responding faster to scientific advice on listing species, meeting mandatory timelines for responding to Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) recommendations and completing a robust species at risk recovery plans.
Naturally-occurring ecosystem services provided by the Boreal forest, such as carbon storage and water filtration, are worth 2.5 times more than the value of extracting resources such as minerals and timber. The Boreal forest houses 25% of the world’s remaining original forests. It is Canada’s largest ecosystem, covering 58 per cent of the country.
New Democrats believe in sustainable development principles as set out by the Brundtland Commission that “meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” New Democrats believe Canada needs conservation planning in the Boreal and across the country that not only meets our domestic and international targets, but strives to exceed them.
We need a Federal Government that will identify and report on any significant gaps in monitoring of the sustainability of Canadian forests. We need to invest increased resources for research on potential cumulative impacts to the sustainability or our forests, including the potential value of Canadian forests in mitigating climate change impacts.
Across British Columbia we have lost dozens of forestry mills and thousands of good paying wood and forestry jobs due to the Conservative’s years of neglect of British Columbia’s forestry sector and their “rip-and-ship” mentality. New Democrats believe in getting the most value and the most jobs for British Columbians out of the logs harvested here. We're committed to working with the province and First Nations to reduce raw log exports, investing in forestry innovation and R&D, while promoting Canadian value-added wood products in Canada and abroad.
Links:
[1] http://www.greenparty.ca/en/news/backgrounders
[2] http://www.greenparty.ca/en/our-vision