From Barbara H. Peterson at Farm Wars.info:
Due to intense pressure, the following statement was released today, April 7, 2011, by the National Research Council of Canada:
Update. Thursday, April 7, 2011: The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) issued a statement to clarify that it has no plans to research genetically modified (GM) wheat.
NRC now states: “GM wheat is not an objective of the NRC wheat program. We will be developing a number of tools that will be used to reduce the breeding cycle, increase yield and adapt to climate stresses. GM varieties are not contemplated at this time.”
“GM varieties are not contemplated AT THIS TIME.” Hopefully, the pressure can be sustained to keep them from contemplating GM varieties at ANY time. Go Canada!
Canada recently gave the go ahead to GMO wheat. Although it is not ready for production yet, the plans were and quite possibly, still are in the making. Here is the original release:
The National Research Council plans to develop genetically modified wheat in Canada — a measure long resisted by the country’s wheat farmers.
The NRC says Canadian wheat farmers are becoming less productive and need to adapt, especially in the face of climate change. It suggests GM wheat as a solution.
In the past week, senior NRC management has been unveiling its long-term strategy to its researchers and other staff. The goal, says a leaked copy of the plan, is to become a “market-driven organization whose primary goal is to develop and deploy technology.”
And it says building better wheat is one of the top goals.
Canada is “losing global market share for our exports,” it says. “Our annual productivity is ranked last against other top producing countries.” As demand rises, “climate change is impacting our agricultural production.”
The document outlines how transgenic wheat could produce new hybrids that will be “a game changer.” (Transgenic organisms have DNA modified through genetic engineering techniques, to create a desirable trait such as resistance to disease.)
But the document warns that a “huge effort” will be necessary to decode all the genetic material in wheat and to learn what traits can be manipulated in the lab.
In my article, “America’s Silent Killing Fields,” I cite how statistics are manipulated and any resistance by wheat farmers is swept under the table:
A March, 2009 report on GMO Compass states:
A majority of farmers in the USA have expressed approval in a poll on genetically modified wheat. They expect gene technology to contribute towards solutions to current problems in wheat cultivation…..
In conducting the survey, the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) approached in writing 21,000 farmers with a wheat cultivation area of at least 200 hectares. A third of those addressed participated in the poll. The object of the survey was the opinion of farmers towards a petition that was formulated by the NAWG and contained essential statements towards genetically modified wheat. Three-quarters (76 per cent) of the participating farmers agreed with the petition.
Let’s do the math:
NAWG approached 21,000 farmers. One-third, or 7,000 farmers participated. Out of that 7,000, 76%, or 5,320, approved of GMO wheat. 5,320 is only 25% of the 21,000 farmers originally approached. NOT A MAJORITY OF FARMERS! This statement is simply not true! The pollsters are twisting the statistics to suit their own purposes. What about the other 14,000 farmers, or two-thirds of all farmers who were not represented in the poll?
Five years ago, the Monsanto company abandoned plans for the market introduction of genetically modified wheat, since many farmers feared losses in wheat export to Europe and Asia. “Our farmers still have no interest in herbicide-resistant Roundup wheat,” declared a spokesperson of the NAWG. However, farmers demand increased yield and wheat types that better withstand heat, dryness and cold. As stated by the NAWG, “Our poll is a strong signal that farmers are ready to plant genetically modified wheat.”
Monsanto clearly benefits from the pollster’s twisted statistics. Who cares about the truth, full steam ahead!
The lie of higher yields is also being spread in order to promote these abominations, but Devinder Sharma states:…”
The Bovine 
All the more reason to get out and vote on May 2nd, and throw the Harper Government out.
I can see why big agribusiness like Harper. But I am continuously puzzled why medium and small farmers in rural areas vote for the same Conservatives who twist the knife in their back whenever they aren’t looking. Are they so worried about registering their long guns that they’ll keep those who are destroying their way of life in power?
“Yea, but our Tory MP protects our crop insurance!” Right. Based on your past few years of poverty.
Sorry to intrude politics. I just heard a rare ag debate among the four national parties, and it just sickened me to hear the Tory go on about “free trade” being the answer behind their “strong backing for small farmers.” Yea, gimme another slug of that US-subsidised corn syrup and soy oil, please…