Legislators from the American Midwest last week endorsed a Saskatchewan resolution calling for the border to reopen to live cattle trade, even though there was some hesitation from border states.
Representatives from 11 states, Ontario and Saskatchewan attended the Midwest Legislative Conference in Des Moines, Iowa.
Saskatchewan Party agriculture critic Lyle Stewart said representatives from North Dakota and South Dakota were lobbying outside the formal discussions for the resolution to be defeated, but were unsuccessful.
“No one spoke against it when it went before the main body,” Stewart said in a telephone interview.
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“There is far more will down here to get it open than to keep it closed.”
Stewart said Saskatchewan’s message that the Canadian cattle industry will survive and that there will be a packing industry in Western Canada to compete with the United States did not fall on deaf ears.
Even though the resolution passed, which also included a call for international protocols that would allow trade to continue during future animal health events, Stewart admitted progress will be hung up by the U.S. presidential election.
“(The resolution) goes into the mill. It will go to the U.S. federal government. We still have some hope.”
Another resolution, put forward by the U.S., called for compatible livestock identification programs among the three North American countries.
“Clearly there is strong support for that here,” said Stewart. “I suspect it’ll be a couple of years down here before we see any kind of a comprehensive system.”
Government relations minister Len Taylor also told the conference that better cross-border regulatory co-operation is required.
Regina will host next year’s conference, marking the first time it will be held outside the U.S. The purpose of the annual meeting is to foster co-operation among regional governments.
