Mr. Speaker, at a press conference this morning, the association representing Canada's 26,000 dairy producers made it very plain that they would not accept any concession on the part of the federal government in the present trade dispute between Canada and the United States over agricultural products. Their legal position is firm, and respects the new GATT agreements, as well as Canada's obligations under NAFTA.
The official opposition supports the agricultural producers of Canada and of Quebec and demands that the government immediately cease all discussions with the American government on this issue.
Canada has nothing to negotiate. It must immediately take this dispute to a GATT or NAFTA panel, which will obviously rule in Canada's favour. If it does not do so, this government will sooner or later have to explain why it is trying so hard to trade away the interests of the agricultural producers of Quebec and of Canada.