Richmond Review, May 25, 2012

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REVIEW FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012

Local government takes stand, despite not having enforcement powers

36 PAGES

Sahar Biniaz crowned Miss Universe Canada

Richmond puts GM crops to pasture Genetically engineered plants

by Matthew Hoekstra Staff Reporter Genetically modified crops are now unwelcome in Richmond. City council endorsed a resolution Tuesday opposing the cultivation of genetically engineered plants and trees in Richmond. The resolution states that apart from three existing dairy farms growing genetically modified corn, no further such crops are welcome. “The city does not have the enforcement powers here. So it is a statement of our intention of our consideration of the matter,” said Mayor Malcolm Brodie. Regulation of genetically modified crops and food products is a federal responsibility. “In the most positive sense we would want to work with the agriculture community in general and to make sure that people are educated as to the possible risks and also to work towards getting better information out to consumers,” said Brodie. There’s little consensus on risks and benefits of genetically engineered plants. According to city staff, a 2008 global review of the available science found a limited number of properly designed studies on the impacts to human health. City council is nonetheless making a statement. “We don’t know exactly what the ramifications could be so why take the chance if through a little more thought and searching out alternatives that farmers can grow crops without using genetically modified seeds,” said Brodie. City council’s resolution, which requires a ratification vote next Monday, also urges senior governments to better manage genetically modified plants through mandatory labelling and greater communication with the public. Local agrologist Arzeena Hamir advocated for the resolution and called Tuesday’s decision “history in the making.”

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Young voices vie for RichCity Idol Page 3

•Created to increase resistance to herbicides, pests or disease, or other reasons, such as to increase nutritional value. •GE foods first put on market in 1994. •Soybean, corn, canola and cotton are four main GE crops. •From 1997 to 2010, land cultivated with GE plants has grown to 148 million hectares (365 million acres) from 1.7 million hectares (4.2 million acres). •In 2012, 10% of world’s crops were GE. *Source: City of Richmond “In the ideal world we wouldn’t even have to debate this issue. In the ideal world in Canada products that contain genetically modified ingredients would be labelled and the general public would know what they’re eating.” Hamir said through choice it would become clear people don’t want these products in their food. But because “we’re all being experimented on” and the federal government hasn’t responded to calls for labelling, it’s up to local governments to respond. Richmond will be the eighth community in B.C. to adopt such a resolution—and one with the largest agricultural industry—and could lead to more municipal governments to follow. “When you get a critical mass of communities that have enacted this type of resolution, then you can take it to the provincial level, and then from the province we can then start advocating for a national moratorium, at least,” said Hamir. Nevertheless, Vancouver Coastal Health officials don’t believe genetically modified food presents a risk to the public. “There is no public health reason for a ban of genetically engineered trees, plants and crops as proposed in the resolution presented to council,” said the letter, signed by health officers Dalton Cross and Dr. James Lu. Genetically engineered food products were first approved by Health Canada in 1994. According to health officials, up to 70 per cent of grocery store food has some ingredients derived from genetically engineered organisms.

Nicholas Allum/ AllumSki.com photo Sahar Biniaz, 26, will now represent Canada in the 2012 Miss Universe contest.

by Matthew Hoekstra Staff Reporter Richmond’s Sahar Biniaz is now Canadian pageant royalty. The 26-year-old won the crown at the Miss Universe Canada 2012 contest last Saturday in Toronto. “It was absolutely amazing. The feeling of it is like winning a lottery: you buy a ticket hoping to win, but you’re never ever prepared enough

mentally, emotionally and physically for all these things that will go with it.” Biniaz is now planning a tour of South America to work with the charity SOS Children’s Villages. In B.C. she’ll be helping raise awareness for B.C. Transplant, an organization close to her heart ever since a 25-year-old cousin died in a car accident—but not before he saved someone’s life with a heart donation. See Page 7

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