| MPP
Arnott Asks President Bush to Open Border for Canadian
Beef, Presents Letter at US Consulate
Joined
by Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Bill Murdoch and Perth-Middlesex
MPP Bert Johnson, Waterloo-Wellington MPP Ted Arnott
met with U.S. Consul-General Antoinette Marwitz at the
United States Consulate in Toronto on August 13, 2003.
The
MPPs raised the need for the United States to fully
open the border to Canadian Beef and Mr. Arnott presented
them with a letter addressed to President George W.
Bush.
“Beef
farming makes up a substantial portion of our agricultural
economy in the Province of Ontario and in Waterloo-Wellington.
I believe that the future of that economy depends to
a great extent on the ability of beef farmers to rebound
from the crisis created by the border closure,” Mr.
Arnott stated in his letter to the President. “The ban
on Canadian beef has had a negative impact on the beef
sector affecting cow/calf operations, feedlot operators,
and trucking businesses to name a few.”
“While
we are pleased that there has been a partial reopening
of the border for some beef products, it is my understanding
that the border remains closed to the transport of live
cattle,” Mr. Arnott continued. “I am asking that you
use your influence to support opening the border fully
and doing so as soon as possible so that our beef farmers
and related businesses can have a reasonable chance
of restoring their livelihoods. As I know you are aware,
this will benefit farm families on both sides of the
border.”
Mr.
Arnott’s presentation to U.S. officials follows recent
meetings that he and Bill Murdoch arranged at the Japanese
Consulates in Vancouver and Toronto.
“We
expressed our appreciation for the partial reopening
of the U.S. border to Canadian beef, but we must continue
our lobbying efforts until the U.S. market is completely
open again to our beef and live cattle exports,” he
concluded.
|
