Cattle industry leaders left Ottawa after several days of lobbying last week convinced that good political things are about to happen for their industry, possibly including a cash payment worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
Canadian Cattlemen’s Association president Neil Jahnke said in a Feb. 18 interview he expects the Liberal government to do several things quickly:
- Open the Canadian border throughout the year to the import of American feeder cattle.
- Announce a loan guarantee program that will help cattle producers secure operating credit from their lenders, including financing feed purchases to get their larger herds through the winter.
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federal government proposed several months ago to increase the compensation rate from 80 to 90 per cent and double the maximum payment from $3 million to $6 million
He said there also is a possibility that Ottawa will announce in its March budget a cash payment to cattle producers that has been promoted by the CCA.
Jahnke said a cash payment is a key part of the industry plea to the government. He said the proposal is $150 per head for younger cattle born since last year, which could cost Ottawa $700 million.
“We’re suggesting it might be time for Ottawa to step up to the plate and lay out some money on a per head basis,” said the rancher from Gouldtown, Sask.
“That’s what we’re talking about and they all seemed to be receptive. I think we will see something come out of there that will be of use to the industry.”
Federal agriculture minister Bob Speller has promised he will go to cabinet once he works out a proposal with the industry on what is needed. Prime minister Paul Martin has said several times in recent weeks that his government needs to help the beef industry survive the BSE crisis.
Jahnke said the government must start by ending seasonal restrictions on American feeder cattle coming north.
“He (Speller) gave us every indication that it will happen. It has to happen.”
The border opening to American cattle could be announced as early as this week.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has kept seasonal restrictions because of the presence of anaplasmosis and bluetongue in some U.S. herds. A comment period on the restriction ended last week.
The Americans, supported by the CCA and opposition MPs, have called this restriction unnecessary protectionism.
“People complain because the Americans won’t open the border based on science,” said Jahnke, referring to complaints about U.S. restrictions on Canadian live imports after BSE. “The science is in and it’s been in for years (on anaplasmosis and bluetongue) but we keep dragging our feet.”
The demand for year-round access for feeder cattle coming north has been around for 17 years, he said.
“We’ve been assured it will finally happen and if it doesn’t, I’ve got some sympathy for the Americans because if they are supposed to open their borders on science, we’d better be ready to do the same.”
Canadian Alliance MPs, now members of the Conservative party, have insisted that if Canada did not have the import restrictions, the U.S. restrictions on Canadian cattle imports would have been lifted months ago.
