STONY PLAIN, Alta. – One of the oldest women’s organizations in Canada
waded into the debate on genetically modified organisms during its
annual general meeting.
The Alberta Women’s Institutes passed a motion requesting mandatory
labelling on all food that has been genetically modified, but defeated
a motion that research work be stopped on GM crops until scientists can
prove no danger exists from the research.
“If someone is trying to eat healthy and stays off that type of thing
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they should have an alternative,” said Phyllis Kosik of Alberta Beach,
regarding her motion to have mandatory labelling of food products.
“A label may not be big enough for some things.”
But her motion to stop research until genetic modification can be
proved safe met with resistance. Kosik said she wanted more regulations
to prevent scientists from doing research on GM crops and organic crops
in the same research station.
“They’re spraying those crops and they’re growing organic next door.”
But the resolution soon turned into a general debate on GM crops and
research.
“In this day and age, scientists are trying to improve the quality of
food. There is no way I can support banning scientists from doing
research that needs to be done,” said Jeannette Coutts of Vermilion.
“Who is going to do the banning? That’s pie in the sky,” said Aileen
Kritzinger of Stony Plain.
Helen Standing of Hanna said she wanted some brakes put on research.
“Now they’re crossing vegetables with animals and I’d be opposed to
that,” said Standing.
Another member said scientists couldn’t run rampant just because it’s a
modern world.
In the end, the motion to ban research was defeated.
