Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Agriculture and
Forestry
Issue 27 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Monday, December 7, 1998
(43)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry met at 9:06 a.m. this day, in Room 705-VB, the Chairman, the Honourable Senator Leonard J. Gustafson, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Chalifoux, Fairbairn, P.C., Gustafson, Hays, Robichaud, P.C. (Saint-Louis-de-Kent), Rossiter, Spivak and Whelan, P.C. (8).
In attendance: June Dewetering and Frédéric Forge, Research Officers, Research Branch, Library of Parliament; Dave Newman and David Glastonbury, Newman Communications.
Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.
WITNESSES:
From Vermont Public Interest Research Group:
Mr. Anthony Pollina, Senior Policy Advisor.
From Rural Vermont:
Mrs. Jenny Nelson, Director and Diary Farmer.
From Consumers Union, Consumer Policy Institute:
Dr. Michael Hansen, Ph.D, Research Associate.
From Health Canada:
Dr. Joseph Losos, Assistant Deputy Minister, Health Protection Branch;
Dr. George Paterson, Director General, Foods Directorate;
Dr. Ian Alexander; and
Mr. Joel Weiner, Acting Director General, Policy, Planning and Coordination Directorate.
Pursuant to its order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, May 14, 1998, the committee continued its study of Recombinant Bovine Somatotropine (rBST) and its effects on human and animal health safety.
Mr. Pollina, Mrs. Nelson and Dr. Hansen each made a statement and, together, answered questions.
It was agreed to attach certain correspondence and reports as appendices to these proceedings.
At 11:04 a.m. the committee recessed.
At 11:12 a.m. the committee resumed.
Dr. Losos, Dr. Paterson, Dr. Alexander and Mr. Weiner answered questions.
It was agreed to attach a letter from Dr. Ian Dohoo as an appendix to these proceedings.
At 12:34 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
OTTAWA, Monday, December 7, 1998
(44)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry met at 1:30 p.m. this day, in Room 705-VB, the Chairman, the Honourable Senator Leonard J. Gustafson, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Chalifoux, Fairbairn, P.C., Gustafson, Hays, Robichaud, P.C. (Saint-Louis-de-Kent), Rossiter, Spivak and Whelan, P.C. (8).
In attendance: June Dewetering and Frédéric Forge, Research Officers, Research Branch, Library of Parliament; Dave Newman and David Glastonbury, Newman Communications.
Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.
WITNESSES:
From Monsanto:
Mr. Ray Mowling, Vice-President, Government and Public Affairs; and
Dr. David Kowalczyk, Director, Regulatory Affairs.
From Kooistra Farms (Illinois):
Ms Linnea Kooistra.
From Cave Creek Jerseys (Wisconsin):
Dr. Michelle Wieghart, Ph.D.
From St. Mary's Veterinary Clinic (Ontario):
Dr. Robert Bell.
From Canadian Animal Health Institute:
Ms Jean Szkotnicki, President.
From Canadian Health Coalition:
Ms Kathleen Connors, RN, Chairperson, Canadian Health Coalition, President, National Federation of Nurses Union;
Dr. Michèle Brill-Edwards, MD, Alliance for Public Accountability; and
Mr. Michael McBane, National Coordinator.
From Toronto Food Policy Council:
Mr. Victor Daniel, Co-Chairman.
As an individual:
Ms Ann Oaks, Ph.D., Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.
Pursuant to its order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, May 14, 1998, the committee continued its study of Recombinant Bovine Somatotropine (rBST) and its effects on human and animal health safety.
Mr. Mowling, Ms Kooistra, Ds. Wieghart, Dr. Bell and Ms Szkotnicki each made a statement and together, with Mr. Kowalczyk, answered questions.
It was agreed to attach the Monsanto documentation as appendices to these proceedings.
At 3:48 p.m. the committee recessed.
At 3:56 p.m. the committee resumed.
Ms Connors, Mr. McBane and Dr. Brill-Edwards made a combined presentation.
Mr. Daniel made a statement.
Dr. Oaks made a statement.
Together, the witnesses answered questions.
It was agreed to attach Need not Greed: A Brief to the Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Forestry on the matter of Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH) as an appendix to these proceedings.
At 5:30 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
Blair Armitage
Clerk of the Committee