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Ottawa 'poisoning' kids: MP

Martin blasts decision not to regulate trans fats

By: Mia Rabson

Posted: 02/8/2012 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

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Steven Fletcher (CP)

Manitoba genesis

THE push for the regulation of trans fats in Canada came from two Manitoba MPs -- the NDP's Pat Martin and Tory Steven Fletcher. In 2004, Martin introduced a motion calling on the government to admit trans fats are unhealthy and urged either regulations or legislation within one year to eliminate the use of trans fats in food sold in Canada.

At the time, the Liberals were in power with a minority government and the Conservatives were the official Opposition. Fletcher was the Conservative health critic.

The wording of the motion was developed in concert between Martin and Fletcher, who first chatted about it on a Sunday plane ride back to Ottawa from Winnipeg. They then met in Fletcher's office two days later where they bargained on the wording of the motion.

During the debate on the motion, Fletcher indicated support for the spirit of the motion, although he said he might not ultimately agree with legislation on the issue depending on what it said.

"At the end of the day, if we need to make a choice between the health of people or the shelf life of people versus the shelf life of doughnuts, the Conservative Party of Canada will always support the shelf life of people," Fletcher said on Oct. 18, 2004.

The motion passed by a vote of 193 to 73. Most Liberals, the NDP and 18 Conservatives voted in favour, including Fletcher and Vic Toews. Both Fletcher and Toews are now in cabinet.

Then-Opposition leader Stephen Harper voted against it.

OTTAWA -- Manitoba NDP MP Pat Martin says the government is poisoning Canada's kids by backing away from a plan to limit trans fats in Canadian food products.

An access to information request from Health Canada was made public Tuesday, showing Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq killed a government plan in 2009 to impose strict limits on trans fats. An announcement was set for October 2009 to phase in limits on trans fats in all Canadian foods to protect Canadians and ensure a level playing field for the food industry. The regulations were to be published in January 2010, and the industry was to have 12 months to comply. A communications plan was developed to announce the plan, but when it went to Aglukkaq's office for approval it was shelved.

"She is undermining the will of Parliament and poisoning another generation of children," said Martin. "I am terribly disappointed."

In 2004, the House of Commons passed a motion calling on the government to admit trans fats were bad for people and to set up a task force with an eye on developing regulations or legislation to limit trans fats within one year.

Trans fats are unsaturated fats that occur often in food processing. They are considered to be among the worst fats to consume because they raise the levels of so-called bad cholesterol and lower what is known as good cholesterol. They have been linked to heart disease. Most trans fats are formed when liquid oils are turned into semi-solids such as shortening or margarine.

In 2007, the federal government gave the food industry two years to adopt recommendations from a government task force that said trans fats should make up less than two per cent of the total fat in vegetable oils and soft margarines and less than five per cent in all other foods. The government said at the time if the industry didn't comply voluntarily Ottawa would make the limits mandatory.

The government released compliance reports in 2008 and 2009 showing some sectors were meeting the recommendations but others were not. In particular, the baking industry was struggling the most.

Fast-food companies have generally been successful at replacing trans fats with alternatives in french fries and other foods.

In December 2009, two months after Aglukkaq shelved the plan to regulate the industry, a briefing note to the minister pushed her to reconsider the regulations. The note says regulating the limits would save the health system between $5 billion and $9 billion over 20 years, while the cost to the food industry would be around $200 million.

In 2010, both Aglukkaq and a Health Canada official suggested regulations were still a possibility if the industry didn't comply.

However, when asked about the issue Tuesday, Aglukkaq indicated regulations are no longer on the table.

"I have instructed my department to continue its engagement with stakeholders to identify the challenges and how best to overcome them without adding a regulatory burden," she said in question period.

Martin said that position is unsupportable.

"The general public is under the delusion that we already dealt with trans fats," he said. "We raised it to the profile where people think trans fats are no longer in our food. Meanwhile they are still clogging the arteries of 10-year-olds."

mia.rabson@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition February 8, 2012 A6

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