GIMLI, Man. – Western farmers are threatened by the federal government’s “extreme, inflexible position” on world trade, said the four western Canadian premiers at their annual conference.
They said refusing to discuss cuts to supply management protection is risky for farmers who rely on export commodities such as grains and oilseeds, beef and pork.
“Just remember, the vast bulk of agricultural production is production for export,” said Saskatchewan premier Lorne Calvert in an interview at the end of the three day conference, which also included a number of American and Mexican state governors, as well as prime minister Stephen Harper and premier Jean Charest of Quebec.
Read Also
Organic farmers urged to make better use of trade deals
Organic growers should be singing CUSMA’s praises, according to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
Calvert said he and his colleagues had been rattled by reports that the federal government had painted itself into a corner by refusing to discuss changes to supply management. Prairie farmers need the federal government to champion freer access to foreign markets.
“It is being perceived, even if it’s only perception, but it’s being perceived that Canada at the WTO (World Trade Organization) is now taking a more protectionist position than Japan, Switzerland or Norway,” said Calvert.
“This does not bode well for a successful conclusion that will see ultimately a reduction in international subsidies.”
The Western Premiers Conference offers a chance for prairie leaders to highlight their crucial issues. The provinces released letters from the four prairie agriculture ministers to federal agriculture minister Chuck Strahl detailing their worries about Canada’s WTO position.
The letter signed by Manitoba, Alberta and Saskatchewan is critical of the federal government’s trade position.
“It has come to our attention that Canada has recently taken an extreme, inflexible position on market access for sensitive products. As a result Canada is the only country at the negotiations refusing to consider cuts to over-quota tariffs. It is our understanding that because of Canada’s position, a tentative agreement on treatment for sensitive products was scuttled,” reads the letter.
“This means that Canada, the world’s third largest exporting country, is now advocating a more protectionist position than countries such as Japan, Switzerland and Norway. In addition, it means that Canada’s intransigent stance may play a major role in the failure to reach an agreement by the end of 2006.”
The letter from B.C. agriculture minister Pat Bell was similarly direct.
“I understand and support the importance of achieving a positive outcome for sensitive products for Canada’s and British Columbia’s supply managed industries. However, aiming to achieve this only, and at the expense of producers who need a level playing field and real improvements in market access internationally, is not in the overall best interest of Canada or our country’s diversified agriculture and food industry.
“It is worth noting that many countries consider meats and oilseeds as sensitive products. The government of Canada’s current approach is implying that these countries should have the option of undertaking no improvements in market access for these products as well.”
On the third day of the conference the western premiers were joined by the governors of Texas, Colorado and North Dakota, as well as by the governors of two Mexican states. Prime minister Stephen Harper attended the wrap-up banquet and addressed some of the conference’s issues at a news conference, but the WTO issue was not among them.
Two days after the conference, Manitoba agriculture minister and deputy premier Rosann Wowchuk said she hopes Harper took the western message back to Ottawa.
“We cannot afford to get entrenched and lose our position at the table and have other countries make decisions on important issues like sensitive products and not be there to state Canada’s position,” said Wowchuk.
“Canada has to be at the table and willing to negotiate. It’s not about capitulating. It’s about being at the table and being part of the negotiation.”
