REPORT FROM PARLIAMENT

January 2009 is proving to be a busy time in government, both at home and internationally. In Canada, much of the focus is on preparation of the all important 2009 federal budget, but there’s plenty happening on the international scene. Of course agriculture is important to my riding and equally important to the Canadian economy as a whole. That’s why my time has recently been spent working to increase access to global opportunities for Canadian farmers and producers.

As you read this I’ll be wrapping up a trade mission to India and Hong Kong, both important markets with prospects for improved trade, particularly for Canadian pulses, live swine and swine genetics. This follows the recent creation of the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada market access secretariat, designed to work with producers and industry on how best to tap new livestock markets and stay globally competitive. The secretariat will include a range of trade experts who will promote our exports around the world.

On another important trade file, I am very pleased as Agriculture Minister, that after formal consultations with Canada, the United States has published its final regulations for U.S. country-of-origin labelling (COOL) and that provisions in the final rule will help level the playing field for Canadian livestock producers.

Simply put, COOL is a mandatory labelling program in the US that requires many retailers to let their customers know the country of origin of beef, pork, lamb, chicken and other agricultural commodities. The changes to the final rule will help address concerns we’ve raised about the specific labelling requirements, allowing more flexibility for meat from animals of American and Canadian origin that are brought together during production.

Our government repeatedly informed our American counterparts that COOL could impose unfair costs on Canadian livestock producers. It’s rewarding to see discussions with our largest agricultural trading partner are paying off. But rest assured that we will continue to monitor the impact these US labelling requirements may have on our industry. At the same time, we will keep our focus on expanding market access beyond the United States. I’m going to keep my suitcase packed as I expect the next few months will include visits to a number of promising world markets to promote our agricultural exports.

Despite the increase in international travel, my duties as your representative in Ottawa continue much as they have for the more than 11 years I’ve been MP for Battlefords-Lloydminster.

Perhaps you are one of the thousands of constituents who at one time contacted my office in either North Battleford or Ottawa with a problem, an idea or just a comment on something federal in nature. I enjoy hearing from constituents. And while we can’t fix everything, it’s especially rewarding when my office is able to resolve an issue such as citizenship, employment insurance or access to other government programs.

If you have concerns or comments of a federal nature, don’t hesitate to contact my office by email, fax, phone or regular mail.

Hon. Gerry Ritz is the Member of Parliament for Battlefords-Lloydminster www.gerryritzmp.ca