Householder Archives | Elizabeth May

Statement on Remembrance Day

Craig Cantin — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 20:42:54 +0000

November 11th is a day to remember that soldiers die believing they were sent for a reason, a noble cause, to defend, to liberate.

Women and men of the military are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice and we owe them our respect and gratitude. November 11th is a time for national reflection.

We remember those who gave their lives willingly.

We remember the shattered lives of soldiers who return wounded not only physically, but psychologically.

We remember that the sacrifice is not just that of a single soldier but their entire family and often an entire community.

We remember the overwhelming, countless loss of civilians who didn’t choose to die.

We remember how easy it is to begin a war but not to end it. There is no such thing as a short war–the effects of violence remain long after the last shot is fired.

We remember the sacrifice of those who work for peace and to end violence.

We remember that violence does not happen just between nations but contaminates our entire society and our way of thinking.

On November 11th we remember, with gratitude.

On November 11th, we remember and pray that war will be no more.

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National Food Policy Vision: to Improve Food Safety, Security, and Sovereignty

Craig Cantin — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 20:41:32 +0000

We need a National Agricultural and Food Policy which:

Improves Food Safety

Amending the Canadian Food Inspection Agency mandate to remove any obligation to promote Canadian agri-business, ensuring the focus is on food safety and food safety only, with enhanced resources for inspection and monitoring.
Ensuring the quality and wholesomeness of food by strengthening the monitoring of pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, growth hormones, non-therapeutic antibiotics and insecticides in food production, processing and storage, with the goal of an orderly reduction in detectable residues of these substances until they reach undetectable limits.
Establishing federally funded, community-guided school lunch programs across Canada to ensure that our children have daily access to healthy local food and can learn about sustainable food production and healthy eating.
Strengthening Plant Protection and Health of Animals Programs with measures to ensure the integrity of farm food products.
Improving and strengthening the Canadian Organic Standard.
Providing transitional assistance for those switching to certified organic farming practices.
Ensuring that no animal by-products are used in ruminant animal feed.
Introducing testing for BSE.

Provides Food Security

Moving towards regional food self-sufficiency across Canada, as we begin the shift to organic agriculture as the dominant model of production.
Supporting the “200 kilometer diet” and locally grown food through expansion of farmers’ markets and local culinary tourism activities.
Promoting roof top gardens, cultivation of green urban space for agriculture, food production in cities and suburbs, and community gardens.
Protecting the right of farmers to save their own seed.
Promoting heritage seed banks and seed exchange programs.

Prevents Corporate Control of the Food Supply

Reforming agriculture regulations to challenge corporate concentration.
Ensuring that farm support payments are farm-based (not production-based) to encourage more farms and more farmers.
Encouraging organic farming methods to improve farm profitability and sustainability.

Learn More: http://elizabethmaymp.ca/vision-green/p1.15

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Town Halls Coming in January

Craig Cantin — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 20:39:34 +0000

Twice a year I host a series of town halls throughout Saanich-Gulf Islands. It’s a fantastic opportunity for me to hear first-hand what’s on your mind, be it a local issue or a national one.

I’m excited to announce a new series of town halls that will be held in January. Be sure to check your local newspaper, mailbox, and my website (http://elizabethmaymp.ca/january-town-halls) for dates and times. I look forward to seeing you!

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XL Foods – a Few Facts on the Biggest Food Recall in Canadian History

Craig Cantin — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 19:47:26 +0000

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a bacteria found in bowels of warm-blooded animals. If it contaminates food, it can cause serious illness or death;
E. coli in XL meats first spotted by US authorities at the border on September 3;
Canada did not alert the public or recall beef products from XL until September 16th;
Up to 5,000 animals slaughtered per day;
2,200 employees;
40% of all the beef produced in Canada is slaughtered at the XL plant;
46 inspectors from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) work on two shifts. Not all inspectors are on the carcass line. Some are veterinarian inspectors who check the animals prior to slaughter. Even if they were all on the line, each inspector would have to assure safety monitoring three animal kills per minute;
Each worker must slice meat on between 300-320 carcasses per hour. The United Food and Commercial Workers Union says the speed and volume of the line force workers to skip steps, like cleaning knives between each carcass;
The union alleges workers were forced to work faster than humanly possible – if safety steps were to be assured. Increasingly, the workers are from the temporary foreign workers programme. Under its terms, they can only work for the company that contracted for them. Earning $17 dollars/hour, most were afraid to complain of violations for fear of being fired and deported from Canada.

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