Producer Outreach Encouraged to Members of Parliament re: Bill C-282 282 ‒ An Act to amend the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act (supply management)

Bill C-282 ‒ An Act to amend the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act (supply management) is currently being debated at the federal level This is a bill brought forward by a Bloc Quebecois Member of Parliament.

Canada’s beef industry has serious concerns with this bill which would prevent Canada from considering concessions in sectors regulated through the system of supply management. Free and open trade is key to the beef industry’s success in Canada, with 50% of Canadian beef being exported around the globe. The beef sector is very concerned this bill would set a new precedent, encouraging our partners to adopt similar legislation, closing market opportunities for all, and hurting Canada’s ability to negotiate new trade agreements and review existing agreements. It is imperative that Canada not be placed at a disadvantage before trade negotiations even begin by tying the hands of our trade negotiators.

On the following page is a template email to Members of Parliament on this issue that was developed by the National Cattle Feeders Association, of which MBP is a member. Producers concerned about the impact of this legislation, should it pass, are encouraged to reach out to their MP via email to express their concerns.

Nicki Ashton, MP for Churchill-Keewatinook Aski (includes The Pas) niki.ashton@parl.gc.ca

James Bezan, MP for Selkirk-Interlake-Eastman james.bezan@parl.gc.ca

Raquel Dancho, MP for Kildonan-St. Paul raquel.dancho@parl.gc.ca

Ted Falk, MP for Provencher ted.falk@parl.gc.ca

Larry Maguire, MP for Brandon-Souris larry.maguire@parl.gc.ca

Dan Mazier, MP for Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa dan.mazier@parl.gc.ca

Marty Morantz, MP for Charleswood-St. JamesAssiniboia-Headingley marty.morantz@parl.gc.ca

Subject line: Manitoba cattle producer concerns with Bill C-282

Dear MP xxxxx,

I am a beef producer who lives in your constituency. As Parliament heads into its final weeks of sitting before the summer recess, I want to take a moment to reinforce the National Cattle Feeder’s Association’s opposition to Bill C282 ‒ An Act to amend the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act (supply management) ‒ due to the profound, immediate and negative impacts it will have on Canada’s economy if passed into law.

As you know, the Trade Committee is currently studying the Bill. When the Bill returns to the House of Commons, we urge you to vote against this legislation.

Bill C-282 quite simply is bad trade policy that profoundly changes Canada’s historic and comprehensive approach to trade negotiations. It sets a harmful precedent that impacts all sectors yet provides limited benefit to the supply managed sectors.

This legislation would share a universal negotiating position before we have even sat down at the trade table. In response, our trading partners will model this by also taking products ‘off the negotiating table’ at the onset – both agriculture and non-agriculture items.

Canada can fully expect many of our trading partners will respond by threatening to refuse to extend, review or modernize existing trade agreements or choose to put non-tariff barriers in place.

It would establish Canada as an unambitious trading partner and would limit our ability to even be invited to a seat at the table of various bilateral and multilateral negotiations.

Aaron Fowler, one of Canada’s senior trade negotiators, stated at the House Trade Committee that he ‘was not aware of any Canadian trading partner that has a legislated prohibitions on the negotiation’ in the manner C-282 does. Why would Canada want to be a global leader on this front?

Mr. Fowler also stated to the House Trade Committee that ‘We have consistently been able to conclude high-quality trade agreements and support the supply management system. I don't think there's any reason to think we could not continue to do so with or without this piece of legislation.’

He said this because there are already safeguards build into the system through required Cabinet approval of negotiating text. And all federal parties have publicly stated their commitment to protecting supply management. So ‒ if this Bill passes – there are no significant gains for the supply managed industries and only losses for all other Canadian sectors.

This bill will encourage other sectors to also seek exclusion from trade talks and will send the signal that protectionism is acceptable and indeed desirable – a public policy course that would be devastating for an exportdependent country like Canada.

This Bill is not a one-off trade policy – it will be incredibly difficult to reverse the momentum and damage to our global reputation and our trade opportunities.

I implore you to not support Bill C-282 and to speak to your caucus members to ask the same.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to meet to discuss our concerns further

Sincerely,