August 28, 2003
For Immediate release
YORKTON— Garry Breitkreuz, M.P. for Yorkton-Melville, and the Yorkton Chamber
of Commerce, added their support to the Cross-Canada Cattle Drive.
The Cattle Drive will pass through Yorkton on September 7, 2003 from
12:00 to 1:00 pm. Everyone is
welcome to come to the Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Building, on Highway #9,
south, to write a message on the truck, sign the petition, enjoy some Canadian
beef, make a donation and cheer them on.
Trail Boss Timothy
Wishewan and his co-wrangler Paul Orlicz are driving a Freightliner truck,
hauling a cattleliner, from Vancouver to Ottawa, to draw attention to the
ongoing struggles the beef industry is facing, as well as those facing the
thousands of businesses that support it.
The Cattle Drive has three
main objectives. It is saying
“thanks” to the many Canadians who have supported the beef industry.
It highlights the fact that a fractional opening of the border recently
does not mean the crisis has passed. And
finally, the Drive is gathering signatures on a petition asking the Government
to act immediately to restore international confidence in Canadian beef with
appropriate protocols for market quality standards and rules.
“We’re doing this for
the butcher, the baker and the candlestick maker,” said Wishewan.
“The impact goes far beyond the ranchers.”
“We’ve got great
initial support for this effort,” Orlicz said.
“Now we can give Canadians a chance to tell Ottawa how important this
is.”
“There are many cow-calf
operations in this area that have kept many grain producers afloat in recent
years. Unless the border opens up
completely, the devastation will be widespread.
The economy of this area is being severely impacted,” Breitkreuz
emphasized.
The Cattle Drive departs
from Vancouver on September 2nd and arrives on Parliament Hill
September 17th.
Breitkreuz urges everyone
to add their voice of support for this Cattle Drive by coming out to enjoy a
hamburger and hot dog at noon on Sunday.
The Cattle Drive
tractor/trailer unit will be on display, and the Cattle Drive participants will
be available for interviews on September 7, 2003 between 12:00 to 1:00pm at
Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Building, on Highway #9, south.
The Yorkton Chamber of
Commerce is helping sponsor this event in Yorkton.
Proceeds from the sale of hamburgers and hot dogs will go toward
assisting the cattle Drive expenses.
For further information
contact:
Garry Breitkreuz
Constituency Office
(306) 782-3309