B.C. law to ban information on farm outbreaks

[Soulforger]

B.C. law to ban information on farm outbreaks
Overrides Freedom of Information law, carries stiff penalty

B.C.'s Liberal government is poised to further choke off the flow of public information, this time with respect to disease outbreaks. The Animal Health Act, expected to be passed into law by month's end, expressly over-rides B.C.'s Freedom of Information Act, duct-taping shut the mouths of any citizens - or journalists - who would publicly identify the location of an outbreak of agriculture-related disease such as the deadly bird flu.

"A person must refuse, despite the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, to disclose . . . information that would reveal that a notifiable or reportable disease is or may be present in a specific place or on or in a specific vehicle," Section 16 of the Act reads.

More in link...

I don't see how this is a good thing...

Read more: http://www.theprovince.com/news/informa ... z1voelelov

[RedDog]

So if they are found to have known about it before some children's school field trip visits the site, will the government be held liable? Also, does it apply to outside sources? That is, if BSE in detected in a steer from Alberta (where it's likely to be from in this country) will the origin and producer also be protected?

This tells me we need a US style Centre for Disease Control where a federal body oversees such matters. I don't trust provinces who can't manage highway potholes or campground firewood, never mind crucial health epidemics.

[Soulforger]

So if they are found to have known about it before some children's school field trip visits the site, will the government be held liable? Also, does it apply to outside sources? That is, if BSE in detected in a steer from Alberta (where it's likely to be from in this country) will the origin and producer also be protected?

This tells me we need a US style Centre for Disease Control where a federal body oversees such matters. I don't trust provinces who can't manage highway potholes or campground firewood, never mind crucial health epidemics.

What I am worried about is the notion that a neighbour can't warn another neighbour or their community if they see a hazmat team next door. Wouldn’t you want to know if there was an outbreak of H5N1 on a chicken farm down the road?

[RedDog]

So if they are found to have known about it before some children's school field trip visits the site, will the government be held liable? Also, does it apply to outside sources? That is, if BSE in detected in a steer from Alberta (where it's likely to be from in this country) will the origin and producer also be protected?

This tells me we need a US style Centre for Disease Control where a federal body oversees such matters. I don't trust provinces who can't manage highway potholes or campground firewood, never mind crucial health epidemics.

What I am worried about is the notion that a neighbour can't warn another neighbour or their community if they see a hazmat team next door. Wouldn’t you want to know if there was an outbreak of H5N1 on a chicken farm down the road?

Exactly! So you know they are a potential BSE source across the road and your cows will be with their cows at auction this Saturday possibly eating the same feed. What feed? From where? Who supplied it? Do you warn the auction market? Will you be liable later if you didn't? This pits neighbours against neighbours when everyone should be on guard for the greater public good and safety, especially concerning the food chain.

[Julian]

I cannot see how a "law" such as this can be either legal or enforced.

G.D. lefties, they are the people who accuse conservatives of being like that.

[wildernessvoice]

Just one more step down the road to.......

[Julian]

Just one more step down the road to.......

Armed insurrection?