THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2011
VOL. 89 | NO. 46 | $3.75
CELEBRATING SAUSAGE | P28
SERVING WESTERN CANADIAN FARM FAMILIES SINCE 1923
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Twin brothers Huxley and Ryker Berting, 13, sit with one of four Speckle Park purebreds. It was the first year that the Middle Lake, Sask., family brought cattle to the Saskatoon Fall Fair, held Nov. 9-12. SEE THE STORY ON PAGE 86. | WILLIAM DEKAY PHOTO
Trade talks spark fierce debate Canada to join Asia-Pacific talks | Tories accused of offering up supply management on ‘altar of trade’ BY BARRY WILSON OTTAWA BUREAU
Prime minister Stephen Harper signalled Nov. 13 he is reversing position and asking that Canada join the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade talks. Supply management will be “on the table” for discussion, but the government will defend the system, he told reporters after an Asia-Pacific Summit in Honolulu, Hawaii. The surprise announcement, which is a change in Canada’s position not to join the TPP if promises to include supply management are required, unleashed a fierce Canadian political debate and trade analyst speculation. The Conservatives immediately found themselves on the defensive in the House of Commons from opposition MPs who accused the government of preparing to offer up the
protected dairy, poultry and eggs sectors on the altar of trade. Some trade analysts were predicting that Canada might have to make concessions. “At the end of the day, if supply management is on the table, there’s going to be some deal that includes some elements of supply management,” Toronto trade lawyer Lawrence Herman from the firm Cassels Brock and Blackwell said. “If you are nervous about competition, this announcement should make you nervous.” He is not a fan of supply management special protections. On the other side is Ottawa trade specialist Peter Clark, who has worked on contract for Dairy Farmers of Canada and supports the system. Clark insisted that because many other countries have areas they want to protect in the negotiations, Cana-
da’s ability to protect supply management should hold. “Canada probably feels that they can be as generous as the United States and not give up very much on dairy,” he said. Clark said Canada privately signalled a year ago it would allow supply management to be in the negotiations, so speculation that it was the issue keeping Canada out is wrong. The TPP trade negotiations are in the early stages. The nine countries include the U.S., Australia, New Zealand and Chile, and Canada and Japan indicated in Hawaii they want to join. Critics of Canada’s decision to remain on the sidelines until now have insisted a major reason is its refusal to negotiate a reduction in supply management protections. Harper announced the change in policy during a news conference at the end of the Honolulu meeting.
“We’re expressing formally our willingness to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership,” he said. “Whenever we enter negotiations, we always say that all matters are on the table, but of course, Canada will seek to defend and promote our specific interests in every single sector of the economy.” Interim New Democratic Party leader Nycole Turmel led off question period in the House of Commons Nov. 14 by accusing the Conservatives of being prepared to sell out supply management farmers. “Canada’s approach to the TPP will not be different with respect to the European Union free trade negotiations,” replied national defence minister Peter MacKay. “Of course, this includes our interest in defending and promoting our specific interests in the economy and that includes supply management.” access=subscriber section=news,none,none
u|xhHEEJBy00001pzYv/:' NOVEMBER 17, 2011 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Box 2500, Saskatoon, SK. S7K 2C4 The Western Producer is published in Saskatoon by Western Producer Publications, which is owned by GVIC Communications Inc. Publisher, Larry Hertz Publications Mail Agreement No. 40069240; Registration No. 10676
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