Canada now has its own country-of-origin labelling proposal.
It’s a private member’s bill, tabled by rookie New Democrat MP Don Davies from Vancouver, and the prospects of it surviving aren’t good.
Hundreds of private member’s bills crowd the parliamentary order paper and with just one hour per day set aside for private member’s business, many are never called for debate, never mind the two hours of debate necessary before a bill can be put to a vote.
However, it is not impossible.
A private member’s bill by Ottawa Liberal Mauril Bélanger designating Ottawa’s Beechwood Cemetery as Canada’s national cemetery was popular enough to be quickly passed into law recently.
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Davies told the House of Commons March 25 he presented his bill in an attempt to give consumers more information and choice.
“Currently, the system of labelling is haphazard and unclear,” he said.
“Country of origin does not always mean that. It could mean the country of assembly or the country of origin of some ingredients.”
He said consumers may wish to support products from a certain country or avoid products from countries for ethical or health reasons.
“Families cannot make informed choices about the foods they buy,” Davies said.
“My bill would give consumers a voice and that is something that all members should support.”
Because most MPs have been denouncing U.S. COOL rules as protectionist, they are unlikely to support a Canadian version. Many are urging Ottawa to launch a trade challenge against COOL.
NDP agriculture critic Alex Atamanenko, said his party’s caucus has not voted to support Davies’ bill.
“We have not discussed it.”
However, he said he supports labelling that gives consumers the option of buying local, regional or national products.
“I am holding hearings across the country on food sovereignty and that’s what I’m hearing that people want,” he said.
