Notice (REVISED)

From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)

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Public events for May 22, 2008

May 21, 2008
Ottawa, Ontario

Public events for Prime Minister Stephen Harper for Thursday, May 22nd are:

Montréal, Quebec

12:15 p.m. – Prime Minister Stephen Harper will deliver a speech at a plaque unveiling ceremony commemorating the national historic significance of James George Aylwin Creighton, the "father" of organized ice hockey. He will be joined by Minister of Public Works and Government Services, Michael Fortier; Mayor of Montréal, Gérald Tremblay; President of the International Ice Hockey Federation, René Fasel; President of the Montreal Canadiens Hockey Club, Pierre Boivin; and President of Hockey Canada, Bob Nicholson.

Media Entrance
Bell Centre
1225 Saint-Antoine Street West
Montréal, Quebec
H3C 1B3

*Open to Media*

NOTE: Members of the media will need proper identification to be accredited.

Sarnia, Ontario

3:45 p.m. – Prime Minister Stephen Harper will present a Certificate of Achievement for the Prime Minister's Award for Teaching Excellence to Thomas St-Amand.

St-Christopher Catholic Secondary School
1001 The Rapids Parkway
Sarnia, Ontario
N7S 6K2

*Photo Opportunity Only*

7:00 p.m. – Prime Minister Stephen Harper will speak at the 41st Annual Construction Apprentice Graduating Banquet.

Dante Club
1330 London Road
Sarnia, Ontario
N7S 1P7

*Open to Media*

NOTE: The Prime Minister will be joined by Member of Parliament for Sarnia—Lambton, Patricia Davidson at both events in Sarnia.

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The Prime Minister's Office - Communications
[Note: You are receiving this e-mail for information only, and because you have subscribed to our distribution list. To modify your subscription or to have your name removed from the list, go to: (http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/subscribe.asp?login)]

Notice

From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)

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Public events for May 22, 2008

May 21, 2008
Ottawa, Ontario

Public event for Prime Minister Stephen Harper for Thursday, May 22nd is:

Montréal

12:15 p.m. – Prime Minister Stephen Harper will deliver a speech at a plaque unveiling ceremony commemorating the national historic significance of James George Aylwin Creighton, the "father" of organized ice hockey. He will be joined by Minister of Public Works and Government Services, Michael Fortier; Mayor of Montréal, Gérald Tremblay; President of the International Ice Hockey Federation, René Fasel; President of the Montreal Canadiens Hockey Club, Pierre Boivin; and President of Hockey Canada, Bob Nicholson.

Media Entrance
Bell Centre
1225 Saint-Antoine Street West
Montréal, Quebec
H3C 1B3

*Open to Media*

NOTE: Members of the media will need proper identification to be accredited.

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The Prime Minister's Office - Communications
[Note: You are receiving this e-mail for information only, and because you have subscribed to our distribution list. To modify your subscription or to have your name removed from the list, go to: (http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/subscribe.asp?login)]

Article

From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)

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Backgrounder - Updates to Canadian Content Food Labelling

May 21, 2008
Ottawa, Ontario

ISSUE: HOW CANADIAN IS OUR FOOD?

Canadian grocery store shelves are lined with food products marked "Product of Canada" or "Made in Canada." Shoppers recognize these labels and seek them out. They assume, as they should, that products bearing these labels are grown or caught, processed, and packaged in Canada.

The federal government first introduced these Canadian content food labels in the early 1980s. The guidelines, which haven't been altered since their introduction, require two basic criteria be met before manufacturers can use the "Product of Canada" and "Made in Canada" labels:

the last substantial change of the goods must have occurred in Canada; and

at least 51 per cent of the total direct costs of producing or manufacturing the goods are Canadian.

However, in the past twenty years, Canada's food supply has become increasingly global in nature. The way food is produced, processed, packaged, distributed and sold has changed significantly. This means a product could be grown in one part of the world, processed in another, and be packaged here in Canada, yet still qualify to use one of these labels.

Canadians have told us that allowing claims such as "Product of Canada" on food products that are manufactured in Canada but contain only 51 per cent Canadian "value-added" may not be consistent with what they understand or expect. Not surprisingly, Canadians are confused, frustrated, and have lost trust in these food labels.

OUR SOLUTION: MAKING LABELS CLEAR AND CREDIBLE

We have developed a plan to update and redefine the familiar "Product of Canada" and "Made in Canada" food labels to better reflect the true origins of products in the modern marketplace.

Product of Canada

The proposed guidelines for the use of this label shift the definition of "Product of Canada" from the direct cost or value of a product to focus on the contents and ingredients of a product. In order that a manufacturer be allowed to use the "Product of Canada" label, "all or virtually all" of the contents of the product must be Canadian. Therefore, all significant components, ingredients, processing and labour used to make the product would need to be Canadian. There would be very little or no foreign content, with the exception of minor additives or spices which may not be available in Canada. This is similar to the approaches used in a number of other countries.

Made in Canada

The term "Made in Canada" with a qualifying statement could apply to virtually every other product produced in Canada. Therefore, if a food product is manufactured or processed in Canada, regardless of the origin of the ingredients, it could use a "Made in Canada" label. Products would use either "Made in Canada from domestic and imported ingredients" or "Made in Canada from imported ingredients." This recognizes the importance of the value added by Canadian ingredients and processing and helps consumers identify when they are supporting Canadian jobs and the Canadian economy.

CONSULTATION PROCESS

We're seeking feedback from Canadians on our proposed initiative. Over the coming days and weeks the Minister of Agriculture and Canadian Food Inspection Agency officials will meet with a wide range of key stakeholders including farm groups, processors, retailers and consumer groups. Ordinary Canadians are also invited to submit their comments by visiting www.healthycanadians.ca. The timeline for consultations is May 21 through June 11, 2008.

FOOD AND CONSUMER SAFETY ACTION PLAN

It is a key federal responsibility to ensure the foods and products that Canadians buy are safe, yet federal laws and guidelines on food and consumer products have been untouched for decades. That is why our Government has taken swift action to introduce our Food and Consumer Safety Action Plan designed to improve our safety and our health, make Canadian brands more competitive among global consumers, and boost confidence at home as a country whose safety standards are second to none.

Highlights of the legislation include:

cracking down on negligent manufacturers, importers and retailers who knowingly endanger their customers;

a new power for the federal government to order recalls of unsafe consumer products;

dramatically increasing fines for violation; and

providing better safety information for consumers.

More information on the Food and Consumer Safety Action Plan is available at: www.healthycanadians.ca.

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The Prime Minister's Office - Communications
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News Release

From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)

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PRIME MINISTER HARPER UNVEILS LABELLING PLAN TO CLEARLY IDENTIFY CANADIAN FOODS

May 21, 2008
Beamsville, Ontario

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced a plan to modernize the federal guidelines governing use of "Product of Canada" and "Made in Canada" labels to ensure they clearly identify the Canadian content in food products.

"Our new guidelines are designed to redefine Canadian food content labels to better reflect the true origins of products in today's global marketplace," said Prime Minister Harper. "Our government is tightening the definitions of these familiar labels, so Canadians know exactly what they're getting, and get exactly what they want."

The current food labelling guidelines, unchanged since the 1980s, do not clearly reflect the actual Canadian content in foods sold in Canada. Under the proposed new guidelines, when a label says "Product of Canada," both the contents and processing of that food must be Canadian. A qualified "Made in Canada" label can be applied to products containing imported ingredients as long as the products are manufactured or processed in Canada.

"Today's announcement is the latest step in our government's plan to bring Canada's consumer product regulation into the modern era," said the Prime Minister.

The initiative is part of the Food and Consumer Safety Action Plan, a comprehensive series of initiatives aimed at establishing tougher regulation of food, health and consumer products.

The Government of Canada will hold consultations to get views from Canadians and stakeholders before finalizing the new food labelling guidelines and their implementation. Canadians are invited to participate in this consultation by visiting www.healthycanadians.ca or calling 1-800-442-2342.

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The Prime Minister's Office - Communications
[Note: You are receiving this e-mail for information only, and because you have subscribed to our distribution list. To modify your subscription or to have your name removed from the list, go to: (http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/subscribe.asp?login)]