These comments are direct quotations from the Hansard
documents.
Temporary Injunction
Ms.
Denise Poirier-Rivard (Châteauguay—Saint-Constant, BQ): Mr.
Speaker, the American market was supposed to reopen to cattle from Canada
and Quebec today, but the temporary injunction obtained last week by some
American cattle producers is further delaying the partial reopening of the
American border.
What does the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food intend to do about
this injunction, to ensure that the interests of cattle and dairy
producers in Quebec and Canada are properly defended?
[English]
Hon. Andy Mitchell (Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Lib.):
Mr. Speaker, I mentioned a number of things earlier. We will continue to
vigorously work with the Americans to deal with the issue that is
immediately before us, but as important, put in place the repositioning
strategy to ensure that our producers, regardless of where they are in
Canada, can restructure or reposition their industry in a way that they
are profitable with or without a border opening.
[Translation]
Ms. Denise Poirier-Rivard (Châteauguay—Saint-Constant, BQ): Mr.
Speaker, given that this new tactic on the part of American producers is
likely to further delay the partial reopening of the border, has the
Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food planned to implement an aid package
that takes into account not only cattle producers, but also the dairy
producers affected by the slump in prices, and cull prices in particular?
[English]
Hon. Andy Mitchell (Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Lib.):
Mr. Speaker, specifically on that issue, as all colleagues in the House
know, the Canadian Dairy Commission, in setting the price of milk last
December, included in the price increase a specific amount to deal with
cull animals for the dairy industry, and that has been of significant help
and importance to it.
In addition to that, I met as recently as last week with my counterpart in
Quebec, the new minister, and we continue to have discussions to see what
we can do to supplement that initiative.
|
