Response to Question - February 4th, 2004

Mrs. Lynne Yelich (Blackstrap, CPC): Madam Chair, I understand the member was the agriculture chair so I have a question for him from the Saskatchewan stock growers in my riding.

They are asking about a need for regulations to be compatible with the policy and regulations of the United States. He said that currently Canada requires feeder cattle imported from the U.S. to be tested for livestock diseases; that the cost of these tests is an impediment to trade; that bluetongue and anaplasmosis do not pose a risk to human health as both are animal diseases only; and that the current restrictions are in excess of the acceptable risk to the livestock industry and impedes our ability to regain market access for live cattle to the U.S. as part of our BSE recovery strategy.

I would like to know if the member could comment on that.

Mr. Paul Steckle (Huron-Bruce, Lib.): Madam Chair, that is an issue that has been raised a number of times, both to myself and to the committee.

This is an issue that has been an irritant to the American farmers in terms of them being able to place live cattle into Canada year round. It is an issue that I think the minister is looking into in terms of how we can deal with it. I do understand that the climate that we have in Canada does not allow for those diseases in particular to perpetuate themselves in the winter months because of our cold climate.

It is not particularly an issue that is of great danger to our industry. I expect that somehow, in the next number of months or so, we may have some resolution to that issue, trusting that in some part that may be a way in which we can help the Americans to understand that the border needs to be opened.