For Immediate Release
November 2, 2009

Environment Minister unaware on toxic reg. impact to Ontario food
Minister out of touch with crippling effect of government direction

Queen’s Park – “I don’t know exactly what this member is talking about.”
Opposition Environment Critic Toby Barrett heard Environment Minister John Gerretsen plead his ignorance in response to questions on the government’s plan to force Ontario’s food and feed industry to label some of their most basic ingredients as toxic.

“Today, marks the end of public input into the list of substances your ministry considers toxic—substances you will require industry and business to not only report, but also reduce,” Barrett stated. “Can you explain to this House why on earth you’re forcing the food and the feed industry to report as toxic products things like Ontario-grown wheat, soybeans, as well as malted barley, chocolate, sugar and other baking ingredients? These products aren’t toxic. Why would you do this, Minister?”
In responding Minister Gerretsen highlighted his lack of knowledge with respect to the toxic legislation regulations process he oversees.

“I’m not familiar with the exact details as to why those particular materials would be excluded, but I’m quite sure that there’s more to it than this member leads us to believe,” the Minister claimed. “We believe that the toxic reduction law that we put forward, and the regulations that come under it, will be the best in Canada and will be the best from a health viewpoint as far as the people of Ontario are concerned.”

In his supplementary question, Barrett made it clear that if the Minister is not prepared know enough about his own legislation to stand up for Ontario’s food industry, the Opposition is.

“Minister, this is not the first time this has been raised in the House and you didn’t even consider what impact this kind of stigmatization would have on jobs in the food industry and the feed industry—and by extension, agriculture,” explained Barrett. “What do they tell consumers who learn the products containing common food-based ingredients, are in the eyes of this government stigmatized as toxic?

“Minister, you’ve got a note now. Will you admit you’ve made a mistake? Will you exempt the feed and food production companies from reporting as toxic the most basic of food ingredients? They aren’t toxic.”

The Minister answered that, “there are no food ingredients on the list. So, I don’t know exactly what this member is talking about.”

Despite Gerretsen’s obliviousness, in recent weeks members of the food industry have been meeting with Ministry staff, and a Toronto Sun article has been written, on the concerns of food particulate matter - including flour and other common ingredients  - being considered “toxic” according to the draft regulations.

Notice of dissatisfaction

Due to the fact that Minister Gerretsen was unable to respond directly to the questions, Barrett tabled a, “notice of dissatisfaction” paving the way for a “late-show” debate seeking further answers tomorrow afternoon.

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For more information, please contact MPP Toby Barrett at: (416) 325-8404,
(519) 428-0446 or 1-800-903-8629