The Honourable Stan Struthers; Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives; recently replied in relation to three 2010-11 Resolutions: Northern Agriculture; Technical Barriers To Trade; and Rehabilitating The Image Of The Interlake, Southeastern Manitoba and the Red River Valley Management Zone. 

Northern Agriculture 

Here is what the Resolution calls for: 

That the Government of Manitoba work with the University College of the North and the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences at the University of Manitoba to develop a research program for northern agriculture. 

 And here is the Minister’s response:

The Honourable Stan Struthers

 “Regarding Northern Agriculture, a Northern GO Team was established in Thompson in April of 2009 with Allen Muggaberg as the Manager. This followed in conjunction with the announcement of the Northern Agriculture Program, as part of the Growing Forward agreement. This program will receive $600,000 in funding over four years to provide support to northern residents to develop and increase agriculture and food production and to improve the supply of healthy foods to northern Manitoba residents. Consultations and planning on how best to develop agriculture in the north are ongoing with various stakeholders, including the University of Manitoba.

In the meantime, we continue to provide support to communities involved in the Northern Healthy Foods Initiative. This has involved developing training and resources in northern gardening, poultry and egg production, along with food preparation, preservation and storage.”

To find out more about the Manitoba Chambers’ Resolution on “Northern Agriculture” click here.

Technical Barriers To Trade 

Here is what the Resolution calls for: 

That when negotiating all new Canadian trade agreements, the Federal Government ensure Canadian trade negotiators include provisions:

• to enforce reasonable prior notice when technical trade barriers are to be raised by the importing country, and 
• for formal dispute resolution processes that are capable of rapidly resolving technical issues and removing technical barriers to trade. 

And here is the Minister’s response: 

“Regarding Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), our government recognizes the need to address technical barriers to trade if Manitoba is to achieve real market access for its exported products in bilateral trade agreements such as Canada EU Trade Agreement (CETA). Manitoba continues to press federal negotiators to ensure that TBT issues are fully addressed in all bilateral negotiations. 

Specifically, federal negotiators are pushing for timelines, transparency, equivalency, and/or harmonization of standards and a dispute mechanism under the bilateral agreement with the European Union recognizing fully the economic impacts of technical barriers to trade.

 The World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement contains specific chapters that provide multilateral rules with respect to food safety and animal plant health and safety with product standards. Manitoba and Canada monitor the activities of our trading partners to ensure they are complying with WTO requirements. Canada is currently utilizing provisions of the WTO dispute mechanism with respect to violations of the TBT and Sanitary/Phytosanitary (SPS) chapters of the WTO Agreement. 

These include WTO panels involving Canada and Korea over Korea’s Canadian beef restrictions as well as Canada and the United States over the United States Country of Origin Labeling restrictions. It should be noted that the TBT and SPS chapters are not part of the current Doha Round of WTO negotiations.” 

To find out more about the Manitoba Chambers’ Resolution on “Technical Barriers To Trade” click here.

Rehabilitating The Image Of The Interlake, Southeastern Manitoba and the Red River Valley Management Zone

Here is what the Resolution calls for: 

That the Government of Manitoba rehabilitate the image of  southeastern Manitoba, the Red River Valley Management Zone and  the Interlake by publishing confirmation that these areas have a variety of environmental capacities, some which are well suited to a variety of farms and other businesses. 

And here is the Minister’s response: 

“Regarding Rehabilitating The Image Of The Interlake, Southeastern Manitoba and the Red River Valley Management Zone, your resolution emanates from concerns about hog production expansion. Clean Environment Commission actions involving this issue should not impede the goal of MAFRI and that of the government to promote agriculture production in Manitoba that is economically viable and also environmental and socially responsible. 

Forty (40) MAFRI GO offices located throughout the province have staff available to assist producers, communities and entrepreneurs to build capacity that will sustain rural communities and rural Manitoba. My department’s Farm and Business Development Specialists are available to offer advice about programs and services available through MAFRI.” 

To find out more about the Manitoba Chambers’ Resolution on “Rehabilitating The Image Of The Interlake, Southeastern Manitoba and the Red River Valley Management Zone” click here.