| MPP
Arnott Shocked by Federal Government, Asks International
Trade Minister to Clarify Liberals’ Position on Farmers’
Supply Management System
Responding
to an article from the Globe and Mail newspaper on Saturday
July 26, 2003, Waterloo-Wellington MPP Ted Arnott says
he is shocked that the federal government appears willing
to negotiate away the supply management system used
by dairy, poultry and egg farmers.
According
to the story, the federal government is looking at bargaining
off portions of the supply-managed markets. Using dairy
as an example, an official is quoted as saying that
foreign access for “say 5 per cent” of Canada’s value
of production for dairy or cheese could be on the table.
The story suggests that opening up these sectors to
foreign producers would be used as a bargaining chip
to try and protect the Canadian Wheat Board at World
Trade Organization talks.
“Our
supply management system is central to our farm economy
and to our way of life in rural Ontario. It ensures
that we have stable supply and pricing for essential
foods that family farmers bring to market. Instead of
facing wild price fluctuations that would throw farmers
out of business, Ontario’s dairy, poultry, and egg producers
get a fair price in the marketplace. That price reflects
the fair value of their labour and fair returns on their
investments, and consumers pay a reasonable price to
put food on the table,” declared Mr. Arnott.
“I
am completely shocked that the federal government appears
so ready to bargain away our supply management system.
Even from a negotiating standpoint alone, it’s bad form
to open with an amount that the federal government is
willing to bargain away. Trading partners not only assume
that Canada wants to bargain with supply management,
but also expect that they might increase the 5 per cent
amount that was quoted, ” he added.
“It
is irresponsible to expose Ontario’s dairy, poultry
and egg producers to this potential loss of market share.
This public report is placing our Country and our farmers
in a bad position at the trade talks - a position where
a fundamental principle of supply management could be
weakened. That is why federal International Trade Minister
Pierre Pettigrew should issue a public statement clarifying
the Liberals’ position on this matter,” Mr. Arnott said.
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