These comments are direct quotations from the Hansard
documents.
BSE Solved - Border Open
Mr. Rick Casson (Lethbridge,
Canadian Alliance): Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday the parliamentary
secretary indicated the BSE issue was solved and said the job is done, the
border is open. That is absolutely absurd. We cannot run a multi-billion
dollar industry through a two foot gate on a 3,500 mile fence. It just
will not work.
We have asked for four months, and I am asking again, what conditions is
the United States Department of Agriculture demanding of Canada before the
border really opens?
Hon. Lyle Vanclief (Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Lib.):
Mr. Speaker, I remind the hon. member he should be thanking this
government and thanking the United States for opening their border to the
extent that they have. It is the first time in history that any non-BSE
country has accepted beef products from a country that has BSE. They have
opened it for boneless beef and they are expediting the process, as the
secretary of agriculture in the United States said to the press yesterday,
in order to move forward to allow the movement of live cattle under 30
months going direct to slaughter. Now they are expediting that process.
Mr. Rick Casson (Lethbridge, Canadian Alliance): Mr. Speaker, this
summer I was in Washington with my leader fighting for the Canadian cattle
industry and one issue was very clear. Until the Canadian border opens to
year round access to U.S. feeder cattle, their border will remain closed
to ours.
This has been a hang-up to the Canadian cattle industry for 10 years. We
know this is the single issue that is keeping that border closed. Will the
government listen to Canadian producers, reverse its position, get that
border open and get it open now?
Hon. Lyle Vanclief (Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Lib.):
Mr. Speaker, the single issue that has closed that border was
unfortunately the fact that we had one single animal. It is a health issue
and that is what we have to deal with. We are going by the guidelines of
the Office International des Épizooties. They are following those
guidelines. They have even moved past those to recognize the system that
we have and the quality of beef we have in Canada. For that initial
movement we are very thankful and we look forward to further opening of
the border.
Mr. Peter Adams (Peterborough, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, my question is
for the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. The minister has worked
valiantly to help farmers affected by the BSE crisis, which now affects
the entire country.
In my riding the export of live animals is of particular concern. Can the
minister bring the House up to date on this? Has there been progress for
the beef, sheep, goat and other farmers whose livelihoods have been hit by
this crisis?
Hon. Lyle Vanclief (Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Lib.):
Mr. Speaker, as the Prime Minister and all of us are informed, we know
that the opening of the border to meat as far as we have at the present
time by Mexico and the United States is a precedent. It has never happened
before in this type of situation to accept product from a BSE country.
I met again last week with the secretary of the United States and the
secretary of Mexico. They both promised me that they would expedite the
process in order to move live animals into their respective countries. I
am confident that they will do that. When that happens that will apply to
all ruminants at that time.
|