Press Release/Communiqué

Date:                          June 13 ^th, 2006

For release: Immediate

CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENT ABANDONS

SUPPLY MANAGEMENT IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS

OTTAWA - Paul Steckle, the Member of Parliament for Huron-Bruce and the Associate Critic for Agriculture and Agri-Food, today criticised the Harper Government for abandoning one of the key pillars of supply management. Earlier today, during a vote in the House of Commons, the Conservative Government voted against a Motion, which in part stated “That, since all the parties support supply management, the government take immediate action to strengthen import control measures, which are crucial to supply management, by limiting the importation of milk protein concentrates and any product specifically designed to circumvent the supply management rules.”

Steckle stated, “I am frustrated that the Conservative party, which publicly attempts to profess support for supply management, would vote against something so fundamental to the long-term survival and viability of that marketing system. Supply management has served the country well for decades and the efforts put forward tonight by the Conservative Government, aimed at undermining the supply management system, are simply unacceptable. I was glad to see that all opposition parties in the House stood shoulder to shoulder and defended the system and, by extension, defended Canadian farmers.”

The vote in the House of Commons carried by a tally of 154 in favour and 123 opposed. For a complete text of the motion consult www.parl.gc.ca.

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For additional information or for a copy of the report please contact:

Greg McClinchey, Executive Assistant to Paul Steckle

(613) 992-8234 or steckp0@parl.gc.ca