AGRI Committee Report

Supplementary Opinion from the New Democratic Party

While the NDP welcomes progress on the trade agreement with Europe, we wish to point out that negotiations are still ongoing and that a few sensitive issues are still being discussed. New Democrats remain cautious and will take a careful look at the fine print of the final agreement. The NDP will support an agreement that boosts our exports and trade opportunities while not hampering the government’s ability to defend the interests of Canadians and protect the public. Although the details of the CETA released so far have led several of the witnesses to speak in favour of the agreement, the fact remains that certain industries have raised legitimate concerns.

According to Wally Smith, President of the Dairy Farmers of Canada, “[t]he additional access is equivalent to a 2.25% cut in farm quota, representing a farm income loss of nearly $150 million a year.” As to what measures the government should put in place to mitigate the agreement’s impact on the dairy industry, particularly during the tariff phase-out period, Mr. Smith said that “it should be no less than ten [years].... I refuse to consider the idea that supply management would be phased out under any way, shape, or form.”

According to James Laws, Executive Director of the Canadian Meat Council, “Canadian manufacturers of prepared meats are concerned with the concessions on geographical indications given to the EU and they’re concerned that there may have been no reciprocity … These meat companies may lose their trademarks for products estimated to have an annual retail sales value of over $25 million.”

Keith Kuhl, President of the Canadian Horticultural Council, said that “[f]ood safety is imperative in the produce industry in an area where it is essential that all are held to the same standards. … It will be crucial that governments in both Canada and the EU strive for joint recognition of industry-led food safety programs.” To address these concerns, our recommendations are as follows:

Recommendation 1

The government must keep its promise to dairy and cheese producers, who will be affected by CETA, by revealing details as quickly as possible about the financial compensation to be provided. It must also make the Agreement implementation period as long as possible, bring an end to practices that circumvent tariff quotas and misclassify products at the border, uphold high quality standards by imposing the same production and processing requirements on imported products, and commit to providing support for commercialization.

Recommendation 2

The government must ensure that the system of protection for geographical indicators is fair and transparent and assists in defending Canada’s interests.

Recommendation 3

The government must ensure transparency in the harmonization of health standards, while ensuring that public safety is never put at risk.