It’s the Canada Day, holiday long weekend and your hosts today, Marc
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The issue of the labelling of food products containing genetically modified organisms, (GMO) sometimes also referred to as genetically engineered, has long been a contentious one.
Historical the trans-national biotech companies who created GMO’s have fought long and hard against such labelling laws.
The small US state of Vermont however has managed to pass such a law in spite of the opposition. It came into effect on July 1st and companies have said they will have to label their products for all states as it is too problematic to label them for one small state alone.
In Canada, the issue has come up several times, but never really made it to the floor of the House of Commons, until now.
Marc speaks with New Democratic party Member of Parliament, Pierre-Luc Dusseault, whose bill asking for GMO labelling has been accepted for debate.
It’s not often that a political leader is considered as a “superhero”, but now Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau has been featured on the cover of a superhero comic book.
Trudeau is depicted smiling, sitting relaxed in the boxing ring sporting a Maple Leaf-emblazoned tank, black shorts and red boxing gloves. Standing behind him are Puck, Sasquatch and Aurora, who are members of Canadian superhero squad Alpha Flight. In the left corner, Iron Man is seen with his arms crossed.
How does a political leader make it on the cover of such a comic book? And why?
Levon spoke with Chip Zdarsky. He’s an award-winning writer and artist and one of two men responsible
*Canadian song of the week, Martha and the Muffins 1980 hit “Echo Beach”
Canada is perceived as a rich country, but surprisingly there are literally thousands of Canadians who survive thanks to free food donations at food banks.
There are just as many children who get the food they need through breakfast and lunch programmes at school offering free or low cost meals.
However, when school lets out for the summer months of July and August, those food programmes end. That means for many children, they go hungry for much of the day.
To find out more about the problem and what is being done about it, Lynn spoke with Pam Jolliffe, interim executive director of Food Banks Canada.
Images of the week
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