These comments are direct quotations from the Hansard
documents.
Proposed Border Opening
Mr. James Bezan
(Selkirk—Interlake, CPC): Mr. Speaker, the agriculture minister is
back from his BSE mission to the U.S. but it appears he came back with
half the deal he went there with.
The U.S. said that it
would open the border to live animals and boneless meat from mature
animals on March 7. Now it is only opening it to live animals under 30
months of age.
I am glad the minister
came home when he did or we might have lost the entire deal.
Canadian producers have,
for far too long, been hearing empty promises and getting false hope from
the government. Will the agriculture minister guarantee that the border
will open on March 7 for live animals--
The Speaker: The
hon. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.
Hon. Wayne Easter
(Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
(Rural Development), Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I really cannot understand
where that member is coming from.
A delegation, with a
member from that party, went to Washington to talk to United States
congressmen and senators, as well as the secretary of agriculture, Mr.
Johanns. It was a successful mission.
They met with a lot of
congressmen and senators to keep the pressure on. In fact, Secretary
Johanns is committed to the March 7 opening for live animals under 30
months, and that is progress.
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