Prince Edward Island won't be the first province in Canada to ban genetically modified organisms.
Premier Pat Binns appointed a special committee a year ago to investigate the pros and cons of banning GMOs. The final report was tabled on Thursday, saying the province would only encourage producers to properly identify GM products to consumers.
The legislative committee began with the premise that a GMO-free province might be a good marketing tool. If it decided in favour of the ban it would have been the first jurisdiction in Canada to do so.
The idea brought out many people and lobby groups from both sides of the debate. Over 15 hearings, the committee heard 138 presentations.
MLA Wilbur MacDonald, who chaired the committee, said the group did not see any economic advantage to banning the GMOs. Instead, it has recommended that produce companies are clear about the origins of their products.
Two of the eight recommendations focused on labelling. The committee wants P.E.I. to support the use of labels on GMO products. It also wants to work with the federal government to develop international standards for those labels.
"It's a bit of a cop-out on the province's side," said Sharon Labchuck, a member of a coalition against GMOs. "Because they're not really in a position to enforce mandatory labelling. That's a federal responsibility."
Only Liberal MLA Richard Brown voted against the committee's report.
Share Tools
Latest Prince Edward Island News Headlines
- Liquor store discussion heats up legislature
- The Opposition raised questions in the provincial legislature Friday over the decision to close the Wood Islands liquor store. more »
- EI rules will hurt primary trades, says P.E.I. premier
- While reaction continues to brew over Thursday's announcement about changes to the Employment Insurance program, P.E.I. Premier Robert Ghiz says provincial officials will be meeting with the federal government to discuss how the new rules will affect Islanders. more »
- HST to hit low-income earners hardest
- Although the proposed harmonized sales tax is good for business, it will hit low-income Islanders the hardest when it's rung in next April, said economists. more »
- Charlottetown businessman named to Order of Canada
- Charlottetown's Fred Hyndman was inducted as a member of the Order of Canada Friday. more »
Top News Headlines
- Everest victim's husband says family not seeking government help
- The husband of a Toronto woman who died trying to climb Mt. Everest on Saturday says his family is not seeking government help to cover the cost of bringing his wife's body home. more »
- Employment Insurance review boards to be scrapped
- The federal government is scrapping two review boards used by people appealing decisions made about their employment insurance. more »
- Teens share bullying tales in confession booth
- Raw stories about bullying emerged when a video booth was set up inside a Quebec high school. more »
- Serial carjacker gets life term for fatal crash
- An Ontario judge was moved to tears while delivering a life prison sentence to a serial carjacker who killed a woman and injured five others after driving a stolen van into her car during a 2010 police chase. more »
- EI rules will hurt primary trades, says P.E.I. premier
- P.E.I. quality of life second-worst, says study
- HST to hit low-income earners hardest
- 902 numbers running out in N.S., P.E.I.
- Islanders worried over EI changes
- Charlottetown businessman named to Order of Canada
- Atlantic Lottery replacing old VLTs
- Tourism P.E.I. handed out $60,000 in free golf passes
- Red Shores Raceway's fastest horse put down
