Ottawa Citizen | January 8, 2000 | Mark Kennedy
A new survey conducted by Toronto-based Pollara for the Citizen was cited as suggesting that governments, scientists and health care researchers have a huge sales job to make before technological advances can be put into action, and that Canadians are particularly wary of genetically modified food.
Three-quarters of those surveyed think that it will be commonplace within the next decade for stores to be selling genetically engineered groceries.
But 62 per cent oppose this happening, what this story calls a clear indication of public anxiety about an issue that has become a hot political issue in the past few months.
Public interest groups have urged the federal government to conduct more research into genetically modified foods instead of relying on data supplied by the industry. As well, they have said the government should introduce a system of mandatory labelling that informs consumers which products are genetically modified.
Last fall, the story says that 200 scientists from Health Canada's Health Protection Branch signed a petition that, among other things, raised alarm at the acute shortage of scientists for evaluations and risk assessments of genetically modified foods.
In December, the federal government moved to soothe public fears by creating an independent panel of experts to provide advice on whether to change the regulatory system for approving genetically engineered products. Critics still weren't satisfied.
Mr. Guy, of Pollara, was cited as saying the problem is that Canadians simply don't trust the assurances from some scientists that genetically modified foods are safe, adding, "The big thing among people is, 'We don't understand it and we can't control it. So why would we proceed with something like this? If I can't see it and touch it and understand it, then how can I make decisions?'"
Pollara researchers interviewed 1,017 Canadians over three days in late December.
Among the findings:
Human cloning: Canadians are almost overwhelmingly opposed to the notion of allowing humans to be cloned. Two-thirds expect it will be possible to clone people within the next decade. But 88 per cent are opposed.
