The Rural Voice, 2003-04, Page 55Ag News
Groups worry about WTO negotiations
Representatives of supply managed
commodities expressed concern
about the current round of the World
Trade Organization negotiations
when they spoke at the Members of
Parliament meeting of the Huron
County Federation of Agriculture,
March 22.
Brian Durst of the egg and pullet
producers, in a written brief, said the
tariff reductions proposed in the first
draft of the report by WTO "would
spell the end of supply management".
The proposals would reduce tariffs
protecting Canadian producers and at
the same time require importing of
more than double the current 10 per
cent market share from other
countries.
And if the first draft was bad, "the
second draft is as bad as the first,"
said John Maaskant of the Huron
chicken producers.
Maaskant worried that Canada's
negotiating team could adopt a
strategy that would play into the
hands of the U.S. and European
Union. "We want to make sure that
the negotiating team is going to be
aggressive, well-equipped and
strategic," he told Paul Steckle, MP
for Huron -Bruce and chair of the
standing"committee of agriculture
and agri-food.
Maaskant urged Canada to seek
alliances with third world countries.
The current WTO proposals won't
help any sector of Canadian
agriculture or any region, he warned.
"That's why we supported a balanced
position."
Maaskant said he was encouraged
by good discussions between leaders
of the supply -managed sector and
Pierre Pettigrew, the trade minister.
Jocelyn deBoer, representing the
dairy producers, noted farmers in her
sector were frustrated that Canada
was forced by the WTO to stop its
export programs. "We're complying,
but nobody else does." Pointing to
the U.S. and New Zealand she argued
"1 sometimes think we're the only
country that's complying with the
rules."
Steckle said he has little sympathy
with the dairy producers' Toss of the
export program because they were
bending the rules. But generally
Canada is living up to the trade rules
while the U.S. does not. "But they're
not going to," he warned. They are a
big player and Canada is a small
player and the U.S. will continue to
do what it wants.0
Helen Johns, Ontario's Minister of Agriculture and Food, and Paul Steckle,
chair of the Commons' Agriculture and Agri -Food Standing Committee, both
representatives of Huron -Bruce, accept framed copies of The Farmer's Creed
from Nick Whyte, first vice-president of the Huron County Federation of
Agriculture on March 22.
Can urban and
rural communities
share a vision for
our countryside?
Toronto Food Policy Council
member, Wayne Roberts, will
lead a discussion with members of
Grey Association for Better Planning
at its 141h annual meeting
Saturday, April 5, 2003 in Markdale
at Annesley United Church
We Won, We Won, We Won!!
GABP won a decisive victory by Ontario's Superior Court of Justice when it agreed
that "commercial water taking" is a land use activity that can be governed by
municipalities through official plans and zoning by-laws. Groups and individuals
across Ontario have made donations form $5. to $10,000. for total legal costs of
$94,000. GABP still needs $35.000. Every amount counts! Share in the victory!
Charitable receipts are available - make a cheque payable to Environmental Defence
Canada and mail it to GABP, Box 312, Flesherton, Ont. NOC 1E0.
For information phone 519-922-2033 or 519-794-3259
or email our_water_works@hotmail.com
APRIL 2003 51