These comments are direct quotations from the Hansard
documents.
Biosafety Protocol
Hon. Charles Caccia
(Davenport, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of
Agriculture and it concerns the United Nations biosafety protocol.
Given that 57 nations have ratified the biosafety protocol, given the fact
that it has entered into force and given that Canada is host to the UN
Secretariat on Biodiversity, when will the minister be in a position to
give the green light so that the government can ratify this important
protocol?
[Translation]
Mr. Claude Duplain (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of
Agriculture and Agri-Food, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, the Government of
Canada has a strong interest in the conservation and sustainable use of
biodiversity and supports the environmental objectives of the protocol on
biosafety.
Canada signed this protocol in 2001 and is committed to addressing the
concerns of stakeholders in the agri-food and biotechnology industries.
The agri-food sectors support the protocol's goals and have agreed to work
with us in accordance with the protocol and to minimize the uncertainties
related to trade.
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