Feb. 19, 2008, Ottawa – As the five chairmen of the national supply-management organizations we would like to clarify our intent and purpose in acknowledging the strong leadership and commitment of the federal government in our open letter dated February 11, 2008.
Over the past two years, the federal government, and in particular, the Honourable Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, have repeatedly affirmed the government's strong commitment to stand up for supply management and to defend and deliver on the Canadian position at the WTO negotiations on
agriculture. It is unequivocal that Minister Ritz and the Canadian government
support producers' goal for maintaining a viable and prosperous supply
management system in the dairy, egg and poultry sectors.
The recent announcement made by Minister Ritz with respect to the Government's intention to operationalize the WTO Special Agricultural Safeguards (SSG) for supply-managed goods is yet another important tool that government has activated in support of our industries. At the Dairy Farmers of
Canada Policy Conference on Thursday, February 7, 2008 dairy producers
expressed their gratitude for the government announcement on the SSG and all
producers operating under supply management add their voice of appreciation
for this action; that has been a long-standing request of the sectors.
Dairy, poultry and egg producers thank the Minister for his actions taken to date and acknowledge the strong leadership and determination being
illustrated through both his statements and actions.
Yours sincerely,
Mark Davies, Chair Gyslain Loyer, Chair
Canadian Turkey Marketing Agency Canadian Hatching Egg Producers
David Fuller, Chair Jacques Laforge, President
Chicken Farmers of Canada Dairy Farmers of Canada
Laurent Souligny, Chair
Canadian Egg Marketing Agency
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