This Library contains documents from all recent United Church governance meetings, including General Council and its Executive. It will also soon include “Our Beliefs Explained” official policy documents dating back several decades. If you can't find something you think should be included, contact gcbusiness@united-church.ca.
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WHEREAS corporate concentration and control in the market place creates disempowerment for government and food producers and, WHEREAS this also creates economic hardship for primary food producers and, WHEREAS government assistance to multi-national corporations is not in the best interests of either primary food producers or consumers. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the 33rd General Council urge the federal and provincial Governments to alter their present economic assistance to multinational corporations involved in food production, processing and distribution in order to more justly meet the needs of primary food producers.
WHEREAS primary food production policy needs to reflect an understanding of sustainability THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the 33rd General Council endorses the following principles of Sustainable Agriculture.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the 33rd General Council of The United Church of Canada establish as its policy that: recycled paper to be used for publications, correspondence, reports, documents, and forms used by the General Council, and encouraged throughout the church, within the practical limits and requirements for existing equipment and specific production requirements for certain documents; this policy be implemented to move toward a goal by the end of 1991 of having the majority of the paper used by paper which has been recycled;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the 2nd General Council of The United Church of Canada: 1 commend the Government of Canada for the existing legislation which prohibits the use of CFCs in certain aerosols (hair sprays, deodorants and anti-perspirants) and that through writing such legislation be extended to ban CFC propellants in all aerosols and to introduce legislation that would eliminate the use of CFCs in food packaging materials;
WHEREAS the United Church is concerned that much of the agriculture community is facing serious economic, emotional and social stress; and WHEREAS these problems may be aggravated by the absence of a long-term national agriculture and food policy:
WHEREAS the proposed drilling for oil on the Georges Bank might result in serious economic loss to fishermen in the area: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the 32nd General Council request the General Secretary of General Council to urge the appropriate federal and provincial authorities to conduct an environmental assessment study to ensure that such drilling will not seriously damage the fishery.
WHEREAS it has been demonstrated that overfishing of stocks of fish which straddle the 200 mile limit is seriously reducing the fish available to Canadian fishermen: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the 32nd General Council request the General Secretary to invite the Government of Canada, through the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, to take action to obtain international agreement on quotas for the various fish species.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the 32nd General Council requests the General Secretary of General Council to request the federal government to develop a white paper for discussion purposes on the impact of plant breeders’ rights legislation on Canadian and developing countries before proceeding further.
WHEREAS the 28th General Council (1980) expressed The United Church of Canada’s deep concern for the well-being of this and future generations and the belief that science and technology should serve the quest for a just, participatory and sustainable society; and where an ability to solve many of the problems associated with uranium mining/nuclear power has not been demonstrated;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the 31st General Council requests the General Secretary of the General Council to inform the government of Canada that The United Church of Canada is opposed to a general free trade agreement with the United States, preferring a sector-by-sector approach for agriculture and fisheries. This would preserve existing trade arrangements and at the same time provide opportunities for expanded markets.
