BOISSEVAIN, Man. – With the International Peace Garden as a backdrop, Western Canadian premiers and two American governors said last week they want to work together on the issue of farm subsidies.
North Dakota governor Ed Schafer blamed European subsidies for driv-ing down farm commodity prices on the global market.
Manitoba premier Gary Doer said efforts to have those subsidies removed must remain a Canadian priority in world trade talks.
“We’re all committed to the removal of subsidies, especially within the European Community.”
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But the provincial and state leaders could not overlook the bickering that happens on this side of the pond over federal support to farmers in Canada and the United States.
American producers launched border blockades against the entry of Canadian farm produce two years ago.
There have been repeated challenges from the U.S. against the Canadian Wheat Board, viewed by some American farm groups as a state-trading enterprise that distorts prices for grain.
And a group of American cattle producers last year alleged that Canadian cattle were unfairly subsidized and were being dumped into the U.S. market at below the cost of production. Meanwhile, Canadian grain growers often complain that their American counterparts are more heavily subsidized.
The premiers and the governors of North Dakota and Idaho said they want to prevent more border conflicts, partly by getting the facts out about subsidies given in both countries. The issue will be discussed during meetings between their respective agricultural representatives in coming months.
Difficult situation
But settling the subsidy debate between Canada and the U.S. may be easier said than done.
During the meeting at the garden, a symbol of the long-standing peace between Canada and the U. S., a report was circulated from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. It showed Canadian farmers get about nine cents on the dollar in subsidies, compared with 38 cents for American farmers.
Schafer quickly challenged those numbers, saying they include U.S. disaster assistance to farmers.
Alberta premier Ralph Klein said there are American producers who still believe Western Canada’s farmers get the Crow Benefit subsidy, which was scrapped five years ago.
Ignorance on both sides of the border is fostering conflict, Klein said.
“We’ve got to become more knowledgeable about what is in place and what isn’t in place.
“We need to lay everything on the table so we can compare apples to apples, oranges to oranges and grapes to grapes.”
Meanwhile, Schafer said he could offer no guarantee that further blockades of Canadian produce won’t happen in the future.
