Two weeks ago, federal trade minister Stockwell Day promised that Canada would not sign a World Trade Organization deal that undermined supply management or the Canadian Wheat Board’s monopoly.
He said the Conservative government wants to preserve import protections for dairy, poultry and egg producers at international talks and wants its attempts to end the CWB monopoly to be played out domestically rather than in Geneva.
But when an Opposition MP proposed Oct. 22 to turn that pledge into action by telling the government it should demand that the offending proposals be eliminated from the negotiating text now on the table at WTO talks, Conservatives balked.
At a meeting of the House of Commons agriculture committee, New Democrat Alex Atamanenko proposed that the committee recommend to the government that negotiators be instructed to tell the WTO it must remove the text paragraphs proposing an end to monopoly powers for state trading enterprises and border protection reductions for sensitive products.
The British Columbia MP said it would strengthen Canada’s position. Instead of being forced to defend its position every time the issues are raised, Canada could end the debate by insisting the working text be amended now.
“It’s very important that this not be on the table,” he said.
But Pierre Lemieux, parliamentary secretary to agriculture minister Gerry Ritz, said the Conservative opposition to those WTO proposals has been clear and strong.
He suggested the motion be changed to basically urge the government to do what he said it already is doing – opposing parts of a WTO text that propose weakening sensitive product protections and STE monopoly powers while continuing to push for better access for Canada’s agricultural export sectors.
“This needs to be a broader resolution,” he said.
“It (Atamanenko’s resolution) does not capture our full support for the industry in these talks.”
Opposition MPs accused him of overstating government support for the industry and defeated Lemieux’s proposal.
They then passed Atamanenko’s motion with the Conservatives abstaining.
However, given Conservative arguments at the committee, it is unlikely the government will send a message to Geneva that it will leave the talks if the WTO text isn’t changed.
