A new Private Member’s food Bill looks virtuous and forward-thinking. But Canada’s Food Guy, Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, warns, it’s really a two-edged sword and could impact the agriculture and agri-food sector disastrously…
Though little known outside the agri-food sector, Bill C-293 is generating a lot of chatter and even some fear among farmers, food chain participants and civil rights activists…
A cornucopia of potential dangers
Charlebois says the new bill – which is under consideration in the Canadian Senate – poses a major potential risk to our food supply, our fundamental freedom of choice, our health, and even the sta-bility of our economy.
“Under this bill, public health officials could have the authority to close facilities they consider ‘high-risk’, such as meatpacking plants, during pandemics, and even ‘mandate’ the consumption of vege-table proteins by Canadians—measures that border on the absurd,” the good Dr. warns.
“It’s hardly surprising that the private member who introduced Bill C-293 is Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, who is known for his vegan lifestyle,” Charlebois adds.
What could happen…
“Currently, the Senate, which is now reviewing Bill C-293, is inundated with over 120 letters daily from concerned groups and citizens, all apprehensive about the bill’s broad regulatory reach and its impli-cations,” Charlebois reports.
One of the most alarming aspects of Bill C-293, he says, is the power it would grant to officials to shut down agricultural facilities. Such arbitrary actions could destabilize related sectors, and trigger cas-cading effects throughout the entire food system.
Legislating the consumption of vegetable proteins would constitute ‘an unprecedented governmental intrusion into personal dietary choices and market dynamics’. And that could severely disrupt the economic balance of the whole agri-food sector.
My take
“While promoting alternative proteins may align with global moves toward more sustainable food systems, the directive approach of Bill C-293 risks stifling innovation,” Charlebois warns.
“Predetermining market winners and imposing dietary changes in the name of overly cautious risk management could impair the ability of Canada’s agri-food industries to adapt to market demands and consumer preferences.”
And that would make Canada’s inevitable social and cultural segue to a sustainable plant-based food future much more difficult – and probably more expensive – for all concerned…
~ Maggie J.