Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you for being here and for your testimony.
I was elected in 2004, and even then the cattle sector had been in crisis for at least a year. I was appointed agriculture critic in 2005. We met regularly as a committee. We prepared reports. I myself arranged for an emergency debate on the crisis in the cattle industry, right here in the House of Commons. That led to measures such as Bill C-44, which dealt with advance payments. Things are moving. Some markets have been re-opened, in spite of everything. But you are here again today to testify that, in 2009, the crisis is unfortunately as great as ever.
There are several matters to discuss, but my first question is about what is happening with our American trading partners. About a month ago, Mr. Ritz, the Minister of Agriculture, decided not to seek recourse at the World Trade Organization against the American decision on country-of-origin labelling, the COOL standard. The Secretary of State, basically acting like the American minister of agriculture, seems to be no longer using the same language as when the Americans previously announced their intention to relax that rule. Our minister, Mr. Ritz, said at the time that he was satisfied enough to not seek recourse at the WTO. The American minister of agriculture says that the standard is voluntary, while threatening to fine people in the United States who do not implement it. There is clearly a problem. This happened the day after President Obama came here to the House of Commons. The Prime Minister had to have discussed the fact that it is dangerous to impose unreasonable protectionist measures at a time of economic crisis.
Of course, President Obama was only here for a few hours. Despite the efforts in the media and the government’s attempts to convince us that good will is the order of the day and everything is going to be fine, that we are best buddies, and that George Bush is long forgotten, we can all see that protectionist measures are being imposed in the United States. I think measures like that require a swift response from the government.
How does the American decision resonate with you? Is what we read in the media exactly what is going to happen? Do you think that Canada should intervene a little more forcefully on the COOL standard?
My second question deals precisely with this matter. I understand that the Canadian Federation of Agriculture is considering the possibility of establishing a labelling standard, if it has not already done so. It would not necessarily be the same as the American one, since we do not want to be subject to lawsuits ourselves. Do you feel that this is an adequate response to what the Americans are doing?