PC MPPs, Ontario Cattlemen representatives push for opening of border in meeting with US Consul General

Waterloo-Wellington MPP Ted Arnott joined with a number of his Caucus colleagues and leaders from the Ontario Cattlemen’s Association in a meeting with US Consul General Jessica LeCroy to press the case for the reopening of the Canada-US border so that Ontario’s beef farmers can again have full access to the US market.

Mr. Arnott set up the meeting, which took place at the Consulate in Toronto on June 28 th.

“Consul General LeCroy was very attentive to the concerns we expressed on behalf of the farm families in our ridings,” Mr. Arnott said afterwards. “We emphasized the negative impact the border closure has had on the entire rural economy, affecting more than just our beef producers.”

The meeting was timely, coming days after the United States Government announced that an American cow had conclusively tested positive for BSE.

“It would seem to me that this development puts a whole new light on the issue,” said Mr. Arnott.

Other MPPs in attendance included Haldimand-Norfolk-Brant MPP Toby Barrett, Halton MPP Ted Chudleigh, Oxford MPP Ernie Hardeman, and Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Bill Murdoch. They were joined by Ontario Cattlemen’s Association President Ian McKillop, OCA Executive Director Dave Stewart, and OCA Manager of Public Affairs Jamie Boles.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Ms. LeCroy committed to sending a report to the State Department in Washington D.C. to inform officials there of the discussion that had taken place.

“Since the BSE crisis began, it’s always been my belief that we all need to do what we can at our level to seek a solution. This is the third time that my colleagues and I have visited the US Consulate to push for the reopening of the border, and we’ll continue to do what we can to help,” Mr. Arnott concluded.