[All] Crop Life Canada's defamatory letter requires a published response.

Wed Nov 21 10:45:47 EST 2012

FYI: Regarding Waterloo Chronicle article;
http://www.waterloochronicle.ca/opinion/croplife-canada-doesnt-back-claims-on-alfalfa/

Louisette

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Louisette Lanteigne <butterflybluelu at rogers.com>
To: BobVrbanac <BVrbanac at waterloochronicle.ca>; "hepworth at croplife.ca" <hepworth at croplife.ca>; "Frank.valeriote.c1 at parl.gc.ca" <Frank.valeriote.c1 at parl.gc.ca>; "peter.braid at parl.gc.ca" <peter.braid at parl.gc.ca>; Dianne Saxe <dsaxe at envirolaw.com>; davin charney <davincharney at gmail.com>; justin duncan <jduncan at ecojustice.ca>; CELA Articling Student 1 <articling.cela at lao.on.ca> 
Sent: Wednesday, November 21, 2012 10:44:39 AM
Subject: Crop Life Canada's  defamatory letter requires a published response. 

Dear Mr. Vrbanic, Mr. Hempworth, Hon. MP's and solicitors

In today's letter to the editors, Lorne Hempworth, president of Crop Life Canada wrote an article where they stated: "Crop Life Canada did not provide the information that Louisette Lanteigne  attributed to us about GM Alfafa in a recent letter to the editor."

I'd like to state clearly: THAT STATEMENT IS FALSE. 

Please allow me to clarify. 

I attended a Genetically Modified Food Forum in Guelph on Marcy 10, 2011. It was a public forum that took place from 7-9:30 at the Italian-Canadian Club in Guelph. It allowed the rare opportunity inviting public input on GE policy and this was arranged by Guelph MP Frank Valeriote. I was there in person and I took notes. The event was witnessed by a very large crowd. I was notified about it by the Organic Council of Ontario. I believe the event was actually captured on film. 

At that forum, Mr. Hailey was representing Crop Life Canada as a panellist. I witnessed him as he confirmed to the audience, the fact that GM traits do travel 8 miles radius from where the crops are planted. Based on statements made by Mr. Hailey it was reasonable for me to assume that Crop Life Canada has no plausible deniability with regards to the statements he issued. It inspired me to write an email to my MP Peter Braid on March 25, 2011. 

As a concerned citizen, who is frequently involved with public processes, I represent myself. I do not  hide behind any corporate entity nor do I get paid by anyone for the work I do. I have no corporate bias and I stand firm on my personal reputation based on the credibility I have earned as an environmental activist because I base my work on bona fide factual data. I never mention any corporate name unless I can reasonably support the truth of the claims I make in a court of law with evidence to support.

In the letter to the editor as written by Mr. Hepworth of Crop LIfe Canada as published on November 21, 2012 in the Waterloo Chronicle clearly states: 

Crop Life Canada did not provide the information that Louisette Lanteigne attributed to us about GM Alfalfa in a recent letter to the editor. 

The passage they refer to as seen in my letter to the editor as published on November 7, 2012 in the Waterloo Chronicle reads as follows: 

Genetically modified alfalfa is a Roundup ready crop designed by Monsanto. They own the patent on the genetic traits of the seed and it can spread in the pollen up to 8 miles from where the product is used, according to Crop Life Canada.

To view the full article you may visit here: http://www.waterloochronicle.ca/opinion/stop-the-sale-of-genetically-modified-alfalfa-in-canada/

If Mr. Hailey's views, as representative of Crop Life Canada, did not reflect the corporate views of Crop Life Canada at the Guelph event, then I would like to see a letter of correction written and published in the Waterloo Chronicle to clarify that fact along with a public apology to me for having been so mislead to think that Mr. Hailey's views represented the views of Crop Life Canada.  It is a reasonable and logical solution and in good faith that would be quite acceptable in my view. 

If indeed Crop Life Canada actually does know about the 8 mile radius issue and is denying that the fact in spite of Mr. Hailey's statements, it's time for some reasonable measure of public accountability to take place. I would like a statement of apology issued by Mr. Hepworth saying that Crop Life is aware that GM traits can travel up to 8 miles radius, that they apologise for statements made towards Louisette Lanteigne, that I did speak truthfully and that this matter, and this issue will be further investigated by Crop Life staff. I would find that to be an acceptable resolution as well and it shows in good faith that the public concerns will be reasonably addressed. 

As a concerned citizen who is quite active in public participation processes, I only have my personal reputation to support the work I do. The comments as provided by Crop Life Canada were clearly defamatory in nature, attacking the credibility of my statements and I will not allow this matter to go unresolved. If resolution cannot be found outside the suggestions provided I reserve the right to pursue the courts to address this matter. That is why I have taken the liberty to notify solicitors on this matter via this email. 

I request a written response from Mr. Hepworth in regards to this matter in order to resolve this issue in reasonable period of time. 

Below is the correspondence as provided to Peter Braid just days after the GMO forum specifically mentioning Mr. Hailey of Crop Life Canada as the source of the information which Crop Life has chosen to contest. It was written rather early in the morning and contained typing errors due to my personal fatigue but it is the actual email as shared. 

I speak the truth and I will defend my position. 

Thank you kindly for your time. 

Louisette Lanteigne
700 Star Flower Ave.
Waterloo ON
N2V 2L2
___________________________________________________________

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Louisette Lanteigne <butterflybluelu at rogers.com>
To: Braid.P at parl.gc.ca 
Sent: Friday, March 25, 2011 12:49:36 AM
Subject: Feedback from GM forum in Guelph

I attended an event in Guelph where I listened to Mr. Hailey of Croplife Canada. I personally stated, it takes 20 years to prove the causality of cancer from products using Industry Canada standards, but they release their products for sale after 10 years. How can they assure the food they release is safe for human consumption? He stated it's Health Canada's duty, not theirs to monitor 
for food safety issues. I was disgusted at that statement personally speaking. 

When an organic farmer spoke out about concerns of cross contamination issues, Mr. Hailey stated, it is true that pollen can travel 8 miles radius from crops but the burden to keep it off the field is up to individual farmers, not their company.  Another organic farmer was particularly concerned about alfalfa  because it is already spreading through wild crops now and scientist from Wilfrid Laurier, Guelph and Waterloo on the panel at this meeting admit there is no way to contain the modified GM traits once it enters the wild or once it ends up in food processing systems. Transport of GM crops can infect trucks, shipping and food processing systems.  It simply cannot be contained and this is putting organic farmers at risk of crop contamination. Their business relys upon GM free crops. 

The debate was hosted by the MP in Guelph who does sit on the
 agricultural panel and it is my understanding the video of this conference will be made public on line in the near future. It's absolutely outrageous how bold Croplife Canada is about the potential harm of their crops.  They openly admit the risks but assume no reasonable measure of corporate responsiblity for any of it. They are content to  blame the government on the lack of federal guidlines and they have no bad feelings about the externalized health care costs or damages they create for Canadian citizens and farmers.

Please see if we can take better measures at the federal level to at lease bind them to a more reasonable measure of corporate responsibility by setting regulations via Health Canada to assure the testing is done to assure proper food safety or by creating legislation to assure whatever impacts they create can be reasonably contained to avoid tort damages to others. It is my fear if the government doesn't take this
 initiative, the liability will fall upon the government by way of class action lawsuits by farming agencies. I'd rather see my tax dollars invested to prevent this. 

Thank you kindly for your time.

Louisette Lanteigne

________________________________
From: "Braid.P at parl.gc.ca" <Braid.P at parl.gc.ca>
To: butterflybluelu at rogers.com
Sent: Thu, March 24, 2011 3:22:02 PM
Subject: RE: Please support the motion for a moratorium on GM alfalfa

Dear Ms. Lanteigne, 

Thank you for your correspondence regarding genetically-modified (GM) alfalfa. I
 have
 forwarded your email to Mr. Braid for his information. 

The Government of Canada, through the Department of Agriculture and Agri-food Canada (AAFC), helps ensure the agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products industries can compete in domestic and international markets, deriving economic returns to the sector and the Canadian economy as a whole. 

Through its work, the Department strives to help the sector maximize its long-term profitability and competitiveness, while respecting the environment, and the safety and security of Canada's food supply. The activities of the Department extend from the farmer to the consumer, from the farm to global markets, and through all phases of producing, processing and marketing of agriculture and agri-food products.

With respect to GM alfalfa, the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-food has the mandate to comprehensively examine the full spectrum of this seed’s implications on
 producers and consumers, both foreign and domestic. 

The motion will be debated and voted on by members of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-food. As Mr. Braid is not a member, he will not have the opportunity to vote on this motion, but he will continue to monitor this issue with his colleagues on the committee.

Again, thank you for sharing your views on this issue. Mr. Braid appreciates getting feedback from his constituents on proposed legislation, and takes all viewpoints into consideration.

Best regards,

Natalie Halpenny
Member's Assistant to Peter Braid, M.P. 
Kitchener-Waterloo
Braid.P at parl.gc.ca  
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