FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sunday, April 10, 2011

LIBERAL CANDIDATE STATEMENT ON GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOODS

Liberal candidate for Kelowna—Lake Country Kris Stewart was unable to attend a rally at
Kerry Park organized by the True Food Foundation.

“I know that thousands of people in our community have signed petitions opposing
genetically modified foods, and hundreds have turned out to demonstrate. As food
producers, the citizens of Kelowna are attuned to concerns regarding food safety and the
rights of farmers.”

Bill C-474 attempted to address some of these issues, but according to Liberal Agriculture
Critic Wayne Easter, the proposed legislation fell short. Easter was concerned that the
proposal failed to challenge the current review process, and offered no alternative review
process in evaluating the impact of genetically modified foods.

“Our government needs to sort out how to protect the public and ensure that farmers can
plant what they want, avoiding crop contamination. These are serious and urgent concerns,
but all this government wants to do is block debate, slash funding, and avoid oversight,”
said Stewart.

During a speech to the Sikh temple on March 29, Stewart noted that the current government
“wants to slash $400 million from its funding to the Department of Agriculture, including
$250 million from its many risk management programs, programs like AgriStability and
Drought Watch that help farmers make it through difficult economic or weather
conditions. That’s what commitment to farmers looks like to the Harper government.”

The Liberal Party has developed a food policy platform that includes food safety,
supporting local agriculture, developing export markets, and support for environmental
farming practices as key components.

###

Please direct your inquiries to:

Islam Mohamed, Campaign Manager

and spokesperson for Ms Kris Stewart
president@kelownaliberals.ca
250.868.1847

Kelowna—Lake Country Federal Liberal Association