By Alice McFarlane

Ag. groups reject Bloc bill on supply managed sector trade talks

Oct 31, 2024 | 3:02 PM

Roughly 40 Canadian agriculture and agri-food industry groups sent a letter to the Senate to reject a private members’ bill that would take Canada’s supply managed sector out of any international trade talks.

The concern surrounds what is seen as the dangers Bill C-282 poses to Canada’s trade-based economy in the context of the 2026 Review of the Canada-US-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).

Industry leaders warn it could disrupt trade, jobs, and stability across sectors.

One of those concerned groups is the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association. CEO Grant McLellan appeared before the Senate Committee on International Trade yesterday. He explained why the Cattlemen’s Association is opposed to this bill that was introduced by the Bloc Quebecois.

He said it’s just bad trade policy.

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“Our part of the agriculture sector is quite large and so is the supply-managed sector including our dairy and and poultry sectors. It just doesn’t make sense to pit one industry or part of an industry against the other,” he said. “We see this bill, frankly, as a wedge issue trying to drive our industries apart.”

McLellan said with the U.S. election in November and a federal election next year, it’s important to be fully prepared when the review of the CUSMA agreement is due in 2026.

“We know that we have an election coming up south of the border with both candidates very eager to renegotiate and review the Canada, US, Mexico trade agreement,” he said. “We don’t want to be taking cards out of our hands as we go into these negotiations and taking something off the table that indirectly affects other areas, not just the agriculture sector but the mining sector, the oil and gas sector, our lumber sector. It really doesn’t make good sense from a trade perspective.”

McLelland said the Bloc is pushing for the bill to be passed as part of a condition to support the minority Liberal government.

In a letter to the Senate, the agriculture groups said if enacted, Bill C-282 would legislatively handcuff Canada and its trade negotiators which would lead to Canada’s trading partners refusing to engage on key topics of vital interest to Canada.

Of particular concern are the Rules of Origin provisions, labour standards, environmental commitments, provisions governing trade in energy, government procurement and intellectual property.

The letter was signed by:

Alberta Beef Producers
Alberta Canola Producers Commission
Alberta Cattle Feeders’ Association
Alberta Chambers of Commerce
Alberta Grains
Alberta Pulse Growers
BC Association of Cattle Feeders
BC Grain Producers Association
Beef Farmers of Ontario
British Columbia Cattlemen’s Association
Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance
Canadian Canola Growers Association
Canadian Cattle Association
Canadian Oilseed Processors Association
Canadian Pork Council
Canadian Sugar Institute
Canola Council of Canada
Cereals Canada
CropLife Canada
Fertilizer Canada
Grain Farmers of Ontario
Grain Growers of Canada
Greater Vancouver Board of Trade
Pulse Canada
Manitoba Beef Producers
Manitoba Canola Growers Association
Manitoba Crop Alliance
Manitoba Pulse & Soybean Growers
National Cattle Feeders’ Association
New Brunswick Cattle Producers
Nova Scotia Cattle Producers
Ontario Bean Growers
Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers
Prairie Oat Growers Association
Prince Edward Island Cattle Producers
Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association
Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association
Saskatchewan Pulse Growers
Saskatchewan Trucking Association
SaskOilseeds
SaskWheat
Soy Canada
Wheat Growers Association

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @farmnewsNOW