NEWS
RELEASE
March
30, 2001
For
Immediate Release
ALLIANCE
MPs PUSH FOR PLAN TO COMBAT FOOT & MOUTH DISEASE
"$20 billion
dollar industry at stake," warned Breitkreuz.
Ottawa
– Today
in the House of Commons, Garry Breitkreuz, MP for Yorkton-Melville and Deputy
Agriculture Critic for the Official Opposition, was one of four Canadian
Alliance MPs who questioned the government’s plans to prevent foot and mouth
disease from entering Canada. Here
is the text of Garry’s statement in the House today:
Mr. Garry Breitkreuz
(Yorkton—Melville, Canadian Alliance): Mr. Speaker, the
risk of foot and mouth disease entering and gaining a foothold in our country
has many farmers and their families losing sleep at night.
An
article in the Edmonton newspaper quoting a lead veterinarian with the Canadian
Food Inspection Agency has me worried. To
quote Larry Delver, the veterinary program officer with the CFIA, he said: “We
are at risk. We don't have sniffing dogs at the Edmonton or Calgary airport, and
we can't go through a traveler’s luggage unless we are suspicious. Once people
go through the footbaths at the Airports—they are GONE.
We just have to trust them.”
This is not a time for partisan
politics. All members of the House and all levels of government need to put
every ounce of effort into protecting our borders from this outbreak.
If the government is so dedicated to
Canadian farmers, and for that matter our economic prosperity, then how do they
justify only six dogs and minimal baggage inspection and flat out failure to
inspect people and baggage coming here from foot and mouth infected areas?
We should not be needlessly ringing
alarm bells, but we are talking about a $20 billion industry that needs
protection. Why has not the government put in place a plan to better handle this
issue?
The
other statements made and questions asked of the government in the House of
Commons today are attached.
-30-
For more information please call:
Yorkton: 1-800-667-6606
Ottawa: (613) 992-4394
Web Site: www.garrybreitkreuz.com
OTHER
STATEMENTS AND QUESTIONS BY ALLIANCE MPs
Mr.
David Anderson (Cypress Hills—Grasslands, Canadian Alliance):
Mr. Speaker, the impact from foot and mouth disease is very real. Canadians
have watched the devastation of the European rural areas.
In Canada, people are willing to work to prevent this disease from
entering the country. They are waiting for direction from the government.
The Canadian Alliance for the last month has called on the government to
ensure that inspection and prevention measures are adequate and for programs to
educate the general public.
I
would like to take a few moments this morning to talk about a real life issue
where Canadian people need direction. Across Canada, there are hundreds of high
school students who were planning on going to Europe over the Easter break.
These young people want to do the right thing. If they go, they are concerned
about bringing foot and mouth back to their communities, but if they cancel and
stay home they are being told they will each lose approximately $1,500 of their
deposits.
The
government was willing in the last 24 hours to charge the Canadian taxpayer
thousands upon thousands of dollars in airfare by forcing its members to return
to Ottawa last night. What is it willing to do to help these young high school
students do the right thing? Can the government give these students help or
direction in making this decision?
Mr.
Kevin Sorenson (Crowfoot, Canadian Alliance): Mr. Speaker, the Canadian Food Inspection
Agency has announced increased security at our international airports to ensure
that foot and mouth disease does not enter our country.
These measures include disinfectant mats and sniffer dogs. However, we
have reports from travelers that these measures are not being followed at all
international airports. Has the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food personally
taken any action to ensure that the CFIA's increased security is rigorously and
universally applied at all international airports?
Hon.
Lyle Vanclief (Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Lib.):
Mr. Speaker, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, in co-operation with
Customs and Immigration, has stepped up the surveillance of people, goods and
materials coming into Canada. I met
again with the agency as recently as 9 o'clock this morning and went over the
communications plans and went over the actions and the ways in which we will
inform business and travelers on the responsibility that we all have in keeping
this dreaded disease out of North America.
Mr.
Leon Benoit (Lakeland, Canadian Alliance): Mr. Speaker, foot and mouth disease, if it
entered Canada, would devastate our livestock industry, would tear farm families
apart and would cost up to $20 billion. We must ensure that every effort is made by all branches of
government to keep this disease out of Canada.
Will the Minister of Customs and Revenue tell the House and farmers
across this country what specific measures he has taken to educate customs
officials on the seriousness of foot and mouth disease, and how he personally is
monitoring the preventive measures taken?
Hon.
Martin Cauchon (Minister of National Revenue and Secretary of State (Economic
Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec),
Lib.): Mr. Speaker, it is a very important question indeed. As has been said by my colleague, we are working with the
Canadian Food Inspection Agency. As well, we are working in a way to minimize
the risks from immigrants to Canada. We have made sure that over the past few
weeks all the necessary measures have been put into place in order to ensure the
mandate of Canada customs, which is both economic development and the safety of
our community. Of course there is a risk on that side, but we took all the
necessary measures to protect our society and protect our farms as well.