Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Lambton—Kent—Middlesex for her question. She is a strong member of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food. She has shown a great and abiding interest in Canada's upcoming negotiations with our WTO partners.
These are crucial talks and the government has a firm commitment to consult closely with the agriculture and food sector and with provincial governments before its establishes an initial negotiating position for the upcoming World Trade Organization negotiations on agriculture.
Recently in Ottawa, people from all parts of the agriculture and food sector and from all regions of the country came together to provide their advice about the elements of an initial Canadian position.
The conference heard that Canada should seek to eliminate export subsidies in the upcoming negotiations. Participants also indicated that Canada should push to improve market access, particularly with respect to minimum access commitments. Industry participants called for clearer rules and stronger disciplines on trade distorting domestic subsidies.
Finally, the industry indicated that Canada should continue to insist that health and safety standards should be based on science not emotion.
These are some of the main highlights of the discussion. The government has listened carefully to all the views expressed at the conference and they will be considered as we work to develop a negotiating position.
The Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and his provincial counterparts will discuss the outcome of the consultations at their meeting in Prince Albert this coming July. The government will then take a decision on an initial agricultural negotiating position that will truly reflect the needs and interests of Canadian agriculture in the food sector.