The creation of the agricultural market access secretariat may provide the export focus lacking within the federal bureaucracy, say some industry players.
A lack of leadership holds back the Canadian beef industry, said Scott Wooding of the Canada Beef Export Federation during the organization’s annual meeting in Calgary Sept. 17.
“I see an industry that is split into many factions. The government needs to hear one clear voice,” said Wooding, outgoing chair of the federation’s technical committee.
He was also critical of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, because it puts up barriers to the industry as it tries to resume trade with other nations.
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Canada has been banned and severely restricted from some key markets since it discovered BSE in 2003. At times, technical requirements have been reached but political barriers are insurmountable.
“If we are going to get more access overseas, we need to get over these barriers,” he said. “Our own people have been slowing us down.”
Fred Gorrell, director general of the secretariat, said the new institution will handle all commodities but beef is the first priority.
