Ontario and
Quebec ministers of agriculture issued a communiqué after a recent meeting in
Quebec, but it’s hard to decipher what it means.
For
example, they say “recent trade agreements remained an important point of
discussion. In the spirit of the unanimous position of Federal, Provincial and
Territorial Agriculture Ministers took last summer in Charlottetown about the
importance of preserving the integrity of the supply management system,
Ministers (Jeff) Leal and (Pierre) Paradis reiterated the need of meticulous
application of clear border rules, as well as the importance of reciprocity of
standards.”
They did
not say what border rules they have in mind. One possibility is the ban on
trading live chicken between the two provinces. Another is imports of milk
ingredients from the United States.
“In light
of the impacts that the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (with Europe)
and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (with 12 countries, including the U.S.,
Japan, Australia and New Zealand) will have on the agriculture sector, the
Ministers agreed to continue to discuss investments and compensation that the
federal government can make to preserve future of agriculture.”
As if quota-holding farmers haven't already been promised enough by the Harper government announcement that it would guarantee no decline in their profits for 10 years.
The
communiqué mentions the agreement on collaboration of climate change, but says
nothing about the rumours that Ontario will unveil a carbon-trading system
later this week that could enrich the province’s coffers by $2 billion a year
by 2020.
The beef and dairy cattle sectors are major contributors to
greenhouse gas emissions.
They
“agreed that early action could include funding joint research projects related
to water and integrated pest management.”
They
steered clear of any mention of neonicitinoid seed treatment pesticides.
Ontario is in the midst of implementing restrictions that have angered Grain
Farmers of Ontario which is trying to persuade courts to temporarily shelve the
regulations.
“Recognizing
how important the food processing industry is to the Canadian economy, the
ministers agreed to champion the importance of food processing at the
Agriculture Minister’s FPT table and make it one of the priority areas of
Growing Forward 3,” the communiqué says, but it’s not clear what subsidies or
incentives they have in mind.
