It is almost inconceivable that Bill C-293 remains largely unknown among Canadians, given its potential to significantly expand governmental powers in response to future pandemics. A detailed examination of the bill does more than sow confusion about its intentions; it reveals a troubling spirit at its core.
Bill C-293, a private member’s bill that recently advanced through the House of Commons with little resistance, purports to bolster Canada’s pandemic preparedness. Yet, a deeper analysis exposes provisions that could disastrously impact the agriculture and agri-food sector, which are vital to our national economy and food security.
Potential Impacts of Bill C-293 on Meat Consumption
Under this bill, public health officials could have the authority to close facilities they consider “high-risk,” such as meatpacking plants, during pandemics and even “mandate” the consumption of vegetable proteins by Canadians—measures that border on the absurd. It’s hardly surprising that the private member who introduced Bill C-293 is Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, who is known for his vegan lifestyle.
New Powers for Public Health Officials: Closing Agricultural Facilities
The ease with which this legislation passed highlights a disconcerting disconnection and dysfunction within our Parliament, where normally, proposals of such magnitude would undergo extensive debate and scrutiny.
Currently, the Senate, which is now reviewing Bill C-293, is inundated with over 120 letters daily from concerned groups and citizens, all apprehensive about the bill’s broad regulatory reach and its implications.
Concerns Over Mandated Dietary Changes and Their Economic Fallout
One of the most alarming aspects of Bill C-293 is the discretionary power it would grant to officials to shut down agricultural facilities without clear, objective criteria. Such arbitrary actions could disrupt not only meat supply chains but also the wider agricultural operations linked to them, including feed production. This threatens to destabilize related sectors and could trigger cascading effects throughout the entire food system.
Moreover, legislating the consumption of vegetable proteins represents an unprecedented governmental intrusion into personal dietary choices and market dynamics. This could severely disrupt the economic balance of the agri-food sector, adversely affecting everyone from livestock producers to participants in traditional protein markets.
Additionally, the bill seeks to regulate and possibly phase out certain farming practices considered high-risk for pandemic propagation. This could abruptly alter farming operations, affect livelihoods, and hinder the economic stability of numerous producers, making a transition to purportedly safer practices impractical.
Bill C-293’s Arbitrary Powers Could Disrupt the Meat Supply Chain
Farming is woven into the fabric of our national identity, with modern livestock agriculture playing an indispensable role. Bill C-293, however, goes so far as to pick winners and losers within the agricultural sector, sidelining segments that have made substantial contributions to our economy.
While promoting alternative proteins may align with global moves toward more sustainable food systems, the directive approach of Bill C-293 risks stifling innovation. Predetermining market winners and imposing dietary changes in the name of overly cautious risk management could impair the ability of Canada’s agri-food industries to adapt to market demands and consumer preferences.
Impact on Farming Practices and Livestock Agriculture
As it currently stands, Bill C-293 presents considerable risks to the stability and sustainability of Canada’s crucial agricultural and agri-food sector. The Senate must decisively reject this bill.
Beyond its implications for food policy, Bill C-293 also reflects broader concerns about the state of our democracy and the level of public awareness in Canada. The fact that this bill has remained under the radar until now speaks volumes about the current state of public engagement and information. If more Canadians were aware, there’s little doubt this bill would face overwhelming opposition.
Other Articles from Sylvain Charlebois:
Feast or Famine: The New Reality of Eating in Canada [Op-Ed]
Declining alcohol consumption in Canada signals major shift [Op-Ed]
Thank you for the work that you do. This is very concerning.
Over my dead body if they are going to tell me what to eat. They tried to do this with the vaccine when they told us what to inject in my body. Under no circumstances I will accept this
hell yeah brother
this insanity has gonr over the edge. what foolish dictatorial measures are the libtards considering to destroy the lives we live!!!!????
Wjhat can we expect from a crooked government? This is not about food that has gone bad looks like.
“The bill includes provisions that could allow the government to mandate the consumption of vegetable proteins, potentially disrupting consumer choice and market dynamics.”
FALSE
This is a completely fabricated argument that is not even remotely hinted at within the bill. This bill does absolutely nothing to limit the amount of meat protein that people include in their diet; it simply suggests the promotion of plant protein through a collaborated effort that includes the government, in the event of a pandemic threat.
Why does the agriculture industry fear competition, and why does the meat and dairy sector feel the need to block all mention of alternatives to their products despite the scientific and medical data that shows links to communicable disease as well as chronic disease as a side-effect to consuming their products?
Promoting the commercial activities of alternative proteins, such as plant-proteins, is far different from mandating dietary changes.
Why the fearmongering?
“The bill could destabilize the entire food system by disrupting meat supply chains, feed production, and related sectors.”
FALSE
This bill emphasizes collaboration with relevant ministers and stakeholders to carefully consider measures to reduce pandemic risk rather than destabilize the food system.
In a study published in 2024 and titled, “Meat production and zoonotic diseases outbreaks in Asia” at Indiana University, the systematic connection between the number of animals grown for meat and the outbreak of zoonotic disease.
“Among the study’s findings, the researchers revealed that a one million ton increase in beef, chicken, meat, and pork production in a given year corresponds to an increase in disease outbreaks between 48 and 530 percent among certain flu pathogens within a country.”
https://news.iu.edu/college/live/news/37230-iu-professors-discover-robust-link-between-meat
Regulating high-risk commercial activities that disproportionately contribute to spreading communicable disease, and therefore, contribute to a pandemic risk, should be seen as nothing more than a commonsense approach to a well-established link between meat production and the spread of disease.
Always enjoying listening to you at CHOI Radio X with Pierre Couture.