Mr. Masswohl and I were at the PNWER conference in Boise, Idaho, this summer. He was on the panel. I think the head of the National Grocers Association in the U.S. said that country-of-origin labelling was going to increase the price of U.S. groceries by $3 billion in the first year of implementation and $2 billion every year after that.
I'd like your advice, Mr. Masswohl. From our perspective here in Canada, in the last year or so we have seen the western hemisphere travel initiative, which thickens the border, go through Congress. We're seeing country-of-origin labelling and “buy American” provisions. Every time you turn around there's something else that creates an artificial barrier between our economies.
This is not a partisan question, but how can we better defend Canadian interests in the U.S.? How can we better align our Canadian interests--in this case the livestock industry and country-of-origin labelling--with U.S. organizations and groups like the National Grocers Association?
Other countries are hiring lobbyists in Washington and taking their cases directly to the congressmen's districts. They're running ads, along with the National Grocers Association, saying, “If Congressman B votes in support of this legislation he will be adding $200 a year to your grocery bill”, or whatever. They're taking very aggressive approaches.
Should we be reforming how we deal with the U.S. and taking a more mercenary approach? For France, the U.K., and other countries we use our ambassadors and that's it. But in the U.S. should we be taking a different approach? Should we align our commercial interests with their commercial interests more directly and have them put pressure on their congressmen and senators?
You have spent a lot of time down there. I'm interested in your views.