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NFU COMMENTARY: Just because it says 'Product of Canada', doesn't mean it's so
Often when the NFU addressed these issues we have not only been ignored, we have been openly ridiculed as being 'anti-business' and stuck in the past by the so-called experts in government, academia, business and surprisingly and disappointingly a few other farm organizations. Despite this the NFU, like the little engine that could, has kept plugging away highlighting some of the health and competition concerns around the use of the 'Canadian' designation. As well it has been the focus of a number of NFU commentaries. Most consumers can be forgiven for thinking that a food product labeled as a "Product of Canada" means that, well, it is a product of Canada. You would think it would be straightforward. However, in today's increasingly globalize and industrialized food system almost nothing is straightforward. A product of Canada need not have been grown, raised, caught, or in any way begun its life in Canada. Canadian regulations only require that the last substantial transformation of the goods must have occurred in Canada, and at least 51 per cent of the total direct costs of producing or manufacturing the goods is Canadian. My own introduction to this topic was finding out that the product of Canada apple juice I thought I was buying was actually Chinese concentrate, grown under much reduced regulations, thrown in a bottle, some water added and voila was now a "Product of Canada." Colleen Ross, the dynamic NFU National Women's President likes to tell the story of receiving "Product of Canada" coffee in a gift bag she received. How does this situation come about? Thanks to the regulations, a Canadian manufacturer can simply add some spices, sauce, water to concentrate, or a few other minor things that now make something grown or raised thousands and thousands of miles away a product of Canada. Why does it matter? Quite simply it is about your health and your right to know where your food is coming from and under what conditions it is being produced. Many of the countries that produce the cheap stuff that ends up in our food are far behind us on their food safety, environmental and labour standards. It is a form of gambling with your health. At the same time this system is causing hardship and destruction of communities for farmers in those countries. Many consumers deliberately purchase product of Canada items because they want to support Canada's farmers. When they hear the news stories about the regulations that makes their purchase intentions meaningless, they feel duped. In the near future the NFU will begin to take actions to highlight this failing and to once again call upon the federal government to bring about a change so that consumers can know that "Product of Canada" means that the food you are purchasing was grown by or raised by Canadian farmers, to our stringent standards. To be successful though the NFU will need farmers and consumers to join with us to ensure that you can rely on "Product of Canada" meaning what we all think it means. -- -- -- -- Grant Robertson is a senior official with the National Farmers Union-Ontario and a National Board Member of the NFU. Opinions are those of the author. Robertson can be contacted by e-mail (see link) E-MAIL: Grant Robertson |
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