Agriculture and Agri-Food

Nov 30, 2009

Mr. Pierre Lemieux (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture, CPC):

 Mr. Speaker, first of all, let me state that when it comes to agriculture, our Conservative government puts farmers first in everything that we do.

With respect to country of origin labelling, our government is standing up to the U.S. on this harmful legislation and is formally challenging the COOL legislation at the World Trade Organization. Thanks to our efforts a panel was established by the WTO dispute settlement body on November 19, 2009. We have taken action to defend the interests of Canada's cattle and hog producers and we are confident that we will win our challenge.

The request for a special WTO panel is the most recent step in a lengthy dispute between the Government of Canada and the United States. In early December 2008, we launched the dispute resolution process at the WTO by asking for official consultations with the United States, thus indicating our determination to defend Canadian producers.

The ministers of International Trade and Agriculture are both actively engaged in challenging the country of origin labelling legislation and have shared Canada's concerns with their U.S. counterparts at every opportunity.

The Prime Minister has also made it very clear to the U.S. all along that if the discriminatory aspects of COOL are not removed, we would take this issue to the WTO.

With respect to the agriculture committee, I took the initiative, with the support of my Conservative colleagues, to move a motion for the committee to travel to the U.S. in order to meet with congressmen, senators and industry groups to defend our farmers.

Regrettably, the member for Malpeque and his Liberal Party are completely out of touch with Canada's farmers and would in fact have us abandon this challenge. Bob Russell, a former Liberal candidate for Edmonton— St. Albert and Liberal of the year in 2007 said that COOL appears to be an idea whose time has come and that our producers should meet this demand. That is what the Liberal of the year said in 2007. That is not the view of our Conservative government.

It is time the Liberals got onside with farmers and supported our efforts in challenging COOL.

Hon. Wayne Easter (Malpeque):

 Mr. Speaker, putting farmers first is the Conservatives' motto; what a farce. They are the first to help farmers out of business, and that is a fact.

How low will they go? The Conservatives quote somebody who is in an agriculture committee in one sector of one province and then they say that is the Liberal Party's position. That is what that party over there is all about: messaging. No matter what the message is, whether or not it is the truth, that party tries to create a false impression.

These are the facts of the matter on putting farmers first: there are 861,400,000 dollars less than last year in farm safety nets; $101 million lapsed on agriculture and agri-food grants and contributions; $15 million lapsed on the environment; and $13 million lapsed on safety. How could the parliamentary secretary stand in his place and try to leave the impression that he is putting farmers first?

The Conservatives are doing nothing of the sort. They are selling out the farm community in this country. They should be ashamed of themselves.

Mr. Pierre Lemieux:

Mr. Speaker, shame on the member of Parliament. He rants and raves, but he does nothing for farmers. In fact, the member is on strike. He said that he is not going to ask any questions on the agriculture portfolio because he is not supported by the leaders of the agriculture industry. Why is he not supported? Because he is wrong in all of his positions. That is why they will not support him. Now he is on strike. He says he defends farmers, but he will not ask a question during question period, and in committee he is very ineffective.

When it comes to COOL, our government understands that COOL threatens our livestock industry. That is why we have taken our challenge to the WTO. This has been extremely well received by the industry. Let me quote Brad Wildeman of the Canadian Cattlemen's Association, who said, “The negative impact of this legislation will only increase and that is why we appreciate”--the government--“requesting the dispute settlement panel at the WTO”.