Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening under Standing Order 37(3) to discuss a question I had in question period the first day of this session.
I know when I was on the other side of the House not too many members on this side of the House got up under this standing order.
However, I thought it might give me an opportunity to discuss a serious situation in my riding and in ridings across this country regarding Canada's position as it came out of the GATT negotiations regarding ice cream and yogurt. At that time I asked the minister what he was doing and how the negotiations were going with the Americans.
There is a lot of concern out there that over the past few years the government has not stood up for the rights of Canadian farmers when negotiating with the Americans on these issues.
In fact there are many in my riding of Haldimand-Norfolk who feel that the government has failed in any attempt over the past few years to put a strong argument forward on behalf of Canadian farmers.
I ask the minister if he would not stand up to the Americans and tell them we are not prepared to cave in to their position on ice cream and yogurt which was essentially to lower those tariffs to zero immediately.
The minister may not be aware of a legal decision that has come forward to us from the dairy farmers of Canada that in fact supports the Canadian position that we can put a tariff on ice cream and yogurt. I know the minister will be very pleased to hear this. In fact Richard Doyle of the Dairy Farmers of Canada says in a letter:
The drafters of the NAFTA text clearly recognized that GATT rights and obligations would not be static, but grow and change with the agreements negotiated under the GATT. In light of the extensive references to developments and future agreements under GATT, it appears unlikely that a successful argument could be made against Canada's decision to reduce tariff levels according to its GATT rights and obligations. In reviewing the legal opinion, valid arguments have been identified to support the position that your government took during the GATT negotiations.
I have here a legal opinion by the American law firm, Cameron and Hornbostel. I am sure the hon. minister does not have this legal opinion yet because it was just sent out. It is dated February 1.
I am sure when he receives it he will look at it and make it very clear to the Americans that unless we can negotiate a deal we do intend to keep these tariffs on ice cream and yogurt. In fact, we will fight as hard as we can to make sure that we have a continued supply management system in this country and a viable agriculture sector.