Regarding the motion by Perth-Middlesex, MP ~ September 23rd, 2003

Mr. Paul Steckle (Huron-Bruce, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the member for Dufferin-Peel-Wellington-Grey.

I am also pleased to rise among my colleagues today and speak to the motion brought before the House by the member for Perth-Middlesex. Let me say from the onset that this motion calling upon the Prime Minister to lead a delegation to Washington in an effort to open the border to Canadian beef is sound. Recently, the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food passed a similar motion. The only difference in that motion was that the committee urged the Prime Minister also to travel to Japan. The committee felt that both Japan and the United States must be lobbied at the highest levels so that they would understand that our beef is truly safe and that our system really does work.

As members know, on May 20 Canada's world class beef industry was dealt a blow that would eventually cost the Canadian economy billions of dollars. With the discovery of a single case of BSE in an Alberta cow, Canada's beef industry was plunged into unparalleled uncertainty and chaos. The good news is however that due to Canada's active targeted surveillance program, the single case was detected and a comprehensive investigation was immediately undertaken. The infected animal was condemned and did not enter the human food supply. This is again proof that the system worked.

As chair of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food, I have in the past three months met with countless individuals, businesses and organizations on this matter. We have met with farmers, with representatives of the packing industry, with grocery distributors, and with most other components of the sector. I have also taken the liberty of addressing the matter with several Japanese and American politicians and diplomats recently at the WTO trade talks in Mexico. I would point out that while I was doing this, the CFIA and department of agriculture officials had been trying to allay the fear expressed by Tokyo and Washington.

Essentially, since May 20, the focus of the department and the committee has been primarily on the topic of BSE. The international team that reviewed Canada's investigation praised its

Thoroughness and quality as well as the effectiveness of measures already in place to protect our public.

As a result of the strong leadership demonstrated by the government and the minister of agriculture today, Canada is the only country which has experienced a case of BSE to be successful in negotiating access for its beef products into countries which have never reported the disease. In my opinion, this is a strong reaffirmation from our trading partners that they are confident that our inspection system works and that our beef products are safe.

I also believe that it is safe to say that Canadian consumers share this confidence. The public has rushed to the aid of the beef industry by increasing their consumption of beef and beef products. This is also a Canadian first. For domestic consumption of beef to increase after a case of BSE has been identified is indeed a testament to all Canadians. There is still much more to do.

Currently, as each member knows, the US is permitting Canada to export hunter-harvested wild ruminant products that are intended for personal use: caribou, muskox meat from Nunavut for commercial use; veal meat from calves that were 36 weeks of age or younger at slaughter; boneless meat from sheep or goats that were 12 months of age or younger at slaughter; meat from farm raised cervids such as deer and elk; boneless bovine meat from cattle that were 30 months of age or younger at slaughter; fresh or frozen bovine liver; finished pet chews that are made from bone, ligaments, hides or hooves; and calf milk replacer, pet food, and feed ingredients that contain processed animal protein and tallow of non-ruminant sources when processed animal protein and tallow of non-ruminant sources when produced in facilities with dedicated manufacturing lines.

Despite all of this, there are still serious problems facing the industry. First, the products that are being imported by the United States and being authorized through a system of permits. This is a cumbersome system at best. Second, and most important, our live cattle and cull cows are not being permitted to enter the United States for slaughter. This poses a serious problem for both the diary and beef industry. Come winter, farmers will have cattle that are normally gone that must be fed and sheltered even though there is no room in their farm feedlots.

All in all, we have come a great distance but there is a long road ahead.