Cattle farmers grateful for partial re-opening of border
News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Agust 11, 2003
CFA urges government to continue efforts to gain full market access for Canadian meat and animals
(OTTAWA) - The Canadian agriculture industry welcomes Friday's announcement the U.S. border will be opened to specific Canadian beef products. However, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture advises there is still much work to be done. Vital details of import procedures and certification timelines remain unknown and while the announcement is certainly very positive news, the many producers who trade in live animals are still facing a ban.
"The news of the partial border opening is very uplifting," said CFA President Bob Friesen. "This is an important first step, and grounds for optimism. CFA members would like to thank the Minister for his vigorous efforts on this issue. The challenge now will be to ensure that Canadian beef products are awarded the import permits needed to actually move product over the U.S. border, and to work towards a full opening of all international borders."
CFA urges government officials to provide import permit application details to farmers as soon as they are available as these businesses need this information to accurately forecast operations. At the same time, it is essential for the government to step up its lobbying efforts to gain 100 per cent access to the markets that were available prior to the discovery of a single case of bovine spongiform encepalopathy (BSE) on May 20, 2003. CFA offers its full support in pursuing these lobby efforts.
CFA fully supports the motion passed by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture today recommending Prime Minister Jean Chrétien lead a delegation to the United States and Japan to discuss having the beef ban lifted completely. CFA made a similar recommendation in an August 8 open letter to the Prime Minister. In that letter CFA President Bob Friesen wrote:
An opportunity exists for a delegation of national political leaders to directly request details and timelines from our trading partners so that Canadian beef producers can get back into business.
The Federation recognizes the ongoing efforts of Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Lyle Vanclief to have Canada's beef accepted by other countries as it has been proven safe and of highest quality. However, the crisis is entering its third month and with no definite end in site, CFA members feel more visible government action is merited.
Another area of concern for CFA members is the adequacy of the Agriculture Policy Framework (APF) to deal with BSE support funding. Neither current programs nor the proposed Business Risk Management (BRM) programs developed as part of the APF are designed to handle an income disaster of the magnitude currently facing the Canadian ruminant industry and related industries as a result of BSE. The current crisis must be dealt with urgently without waiting for the resolution of future BRM programs.
Many farm groups still hold deep reservations about the structure of the BRM programs. CFA has offered suggestions for BRM programs that would more adequately address issues like the BSE crisis. The crisis in the cattle industry should not be used as leverage to force provinces to sign APF implementation agreements.
CFA remains committed to working with government to address these and other issues in a timely fashion.
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Founded in 1935 to provide Canada's farmers with a single voice in Ottawa, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture is the country's largest farmers' organization. Its members include provincial general farm organizations as well as national and inter-provincial commodity organizations from every province. Through its members, CFA represents over 200,000 Canadian farmers and farm families.
Contact:
Bob Friesen, CFA President, (204) 724-0824 (cell)
Kieran Green, COmmunications Coordinator, (613) 236-3633
