January 11, 2005

Mr Pat Martin (Winnipeg Centre, NDP): Mr. Speaker, we now know that trans fatty acids are really bad for us, and especially bad for our children. Yet, instead of banning trans fats, as other countries have, the Liberal government says it is okay to put this poison in this food as long as it is properly labelled, even then only three years from now, and even then, unbelievably, baby food is exempt.

Will our new Minister of Health stand up for public health and take concrete steps now to eliminate this toxic garbage from our food? Will he act like a Minister of Health instead of a minister of managing illness?

Hon. Pierre Pettigrew (Minister of Health, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister responsible for Official Languages, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, this is indeed a very important file on which we are working hard. It is a big problem, the trans fats issue. The new nutrition labelling regulations will indeed require the declaration of trans fats contents on the labels of most pre-packaged food by December 12, 2005. We expect that it will act as strong incentive to the food industry to reduce or eliminate trans fats from their food. The industry is already moving in that direction. We expect the mandatory labelling of trans fats will assist consumers in making healthy food choices.

Mr. Pat Martin (Winnipeg Centre, NDP): Mr. Speaker, there is no doubt among food scientists as to the hazards of trans fats. They call it the biggest food processing disaster in history. It rivals tobacco as the most serious public health issue in the country. A timid and feckless labelling program will not protect Canadians. It is crazy to put poison in our food and then warn Canadians not to eat it.

Why will the government not listen to Canadians and ban trans fats? Could it be that it is afraid of a NAFTA challenge, under chapter 11? Has NAFTA so comprised our sovereignty that we cannot even protect our own citizens from a known and proven health hazard like trans fats?

Hon. Pierre Pettigrew (Minister of Health, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister responsible for Official Languages, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, it is clear that Health Canada makes a great deal of effort to educate the public better, in terms of eating better food. We have a great job to do, and the Minister of State for Public Health spends a lot of her time and energy to do a good job and making sure that Canadians remain healthy. That is the best contribution we make through the health care system, if Canadians eat better. This is what we are doing with this mandatory labelling, so that Canadians make the best possible choices, in terms of the trans fats. We will help Canadians that way.