APF promised to bring in financial stability
PARLIAMENT HILL–The Agriculture Policy Framework (APF) announced by the federal government on June 20 2002, promised to bring financial stability to Canada’s agriculture industry. However, there are no stakeholders who support the program and some provincial leaders have not signed on. The current set of safety net programs have expired and federal Agriculture Minister Lyle […]
WTO deadline missed
PARLIAMENT HILL–On March 31, a very important deadline in the Doha Development Round international trade negotiations was missed. That was the day when WTO-member countries were to have agreed on the basic framework, or modalities, for an agreement on agriculture. For most WTO member countries, including developing and least developed nations, agriculture is the most […]
Free and fair trade is the answer
PARLIAMENT HILL–Changes in the world’s trading practices are a hot topic of discussion on the world stage. The goal of these talks is to increase trade liberalization to provide all players on the world market equal opportunity and increased prosperity. Liberalization of trade is in Canada’s national interest. Trade is an essential component to a […]
Vanclief’s responses to House Agriculture Committee
PARLIAMENT HILL–On March 20, Agriculture Minister Lyle Vanclief was called before the House Agriculture and Agri-Food Committee, chaired by Liberal MP Paul Steckle, to talk about the department’s spending estimates and the Agriculture Policy Framework. Liberal Mr. Vanclief was there along with the Agriculture Deputy Minister Samuel Watson; President of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, […]
Grit Dairy Caucus monitoring WTO negotiations
PARLIAMENT HILL–The Liberal Dairy Caucus was formed to provide a forum where Parliamentarians can meet with dairy industry representatives and improve their understanding of the sector. As Chair of the Liberal Dairy Caucus, I have been pleased to be in a position to contribute to an improved level of public understanding of this important industry. […]
Three vitally important issues facing farmers
PARLIAMENT HILL–There are vitally important issues facing Canada’s families that demand prompt government action. I will deal with three — the existing vacuum in safety net programs to protect farm income during disastrous times; the World Trade Organization negotiations; and the rush by the federal government to introduce GM wheat into Canada without a thorough […]
U.S. agricultural policy distorts prices, trade
OTTAWA–American agricultural subsidies continue to be a major irritant for the Canadian government as well as a threat to the world economy, says Agriculture Minister Lyle Vanclief. “They [Americans] invest in a way that increases production and, therefore, distorts prices and distorts trade. We feel very strongly that this is not the approach to go,” […]
