OPEN LETTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER OF CANADA                                     June 19,2003         

This letter intends to communicate to you the critical state of meat producers and processors in Saskatchewan

The need is urgent to improve Canada-U.S. relations so that normal trade relations in this agricultural sector resume immediately.  The cattle industry is not the only sector of the meat production industry being affected: the entire protein industry is experiencing severe negative repercussions.

I received a letter from the General Manager of Harvest Meats in my riding that is indicative of many comments received in my constituency office: “ This ‘one mad cow’ has started a reaction that has far encompassing consequences on the entire protein industry in Canada, and not just the beef segment . . . I am concerned that there seems to be a widely held opinion that only beef producers and packers are affected by the crisis, when in fact everyone in the meat protein sector is being affected to varying degrees.”

Until you can get cattle and meat products flowing freely across our borders, Saskatchewan needs immediate and adequate financial aid during this disaster.  Moreover, compensation is not only needed for beef producers; it is required for other meat producers as well.

Prices have been depressed virtually across the entire meat sector.  The closure of the Canada-U.S. borders has also affected meat retailers, meat packers, wholesalers, rendering disposals, trucking companies and auction marts.  These and other industries are losing an enormous amount of money each and every day the borders are closed to trade.

You, sir, need to work night and day until trade in cattle and meat products flows freely across our borders once again.

In conclusion, let me emphasize that Canada needs to maintain a good relationship with our largest trading partner.  Unnecessarily critical words spoken by you and others in your government toward the U.S. have been unhelpful and have negatively impacted the current situation.  We don’t need to agree with all U.S. policies, but neither do we need to publicly and tactlessly make comments that destroy friendly relations.  As a result, our farmers are experiencing a disaster that does not have to be nearly as severe as it is.

I ask you to urgently address this crisis, and I thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely

Garry Breitkreuz M.P. Yorkton-Melville