WTO
Workshop in Alberta
On
August 10th 2005 the delegation of farm leaders that attended
the WTO Public Symposium in Geneva in April of this year organized a workshop and
BBQ involving the heads of industry from across Western Canada. (Click
here for an attendance list.)
Joining
us from Ontario was Liam McCreery, the president of CAFTA. Also in
attendance were representatives from AB Agriculture, Food & Rural
Development, International & Intergovernmental Affairs, the AB Grain
Commission, the AB Barley Commission, MP’s Myron Thompson & Kevin
Sorenson, MLA’s Luke Ouellette, Minister of Restructuring/Government
Efficiency and our Minister of Agriculture, Doug Horner.
The
day kicked off with a power point presentation from CAFTA on the Doha
negotiations, what they hoped to achieve, and where the future will take
them. A round
table discussion on the issues followed. Representatives from AB
agriculture and International Trade discussed the Doha Development Accord
Framework and what is at stake for Alberta. The highlight of the meeting
was a ninety-minute, question and answer conference call, with Steve
Verheul’s office. (Steve Verheul is Canada’s Chief Agricultural
Negotiator at the WTO). Networking took place throughout the day and
continued into the evening with a second more informal session being held
on a farm near Elnora. Background papers were provided to all
participants.
The
WTO background papers give farmers a brief history
of the talks and an overview of the main issues and concerns. It also
gives recommendations of how we, as farmers, can persuade the federal
liberals to promote true liberalization of agriculture. Click
here for a letter that I encourage all farmers to print and
send to their MP’s and additionally, Diane Findley, Stephen Harper,
David Anderson and
Ted Menzies. Their telephone/fax numbers and e-mail addresses will be made
available to you.
This
is a time sensitive issue.
Once a deal is reached at the WTO (possibly by December 2005) and it is
ratified, we are locked into the outcome for the next 15 years or
more! It is your choice whether or not you wish to have a say in
your future or if you are going to allow 10% of the farming community (supply
management)
to form policy for you. REMEMBER, our group is doing everything in
our power to help farmers attain a viable future in agriculture but without
your support and your input to your members of parliament, we
will not be heard!
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