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WTO NEGOCIATIONS

THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY AND MILK, POULTRY AND EGG FARMERS CALL ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO PRESERVE THE CURRENT SUPPLY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Quebec City, November 17, 2005 - The Quebec National Assembly yesterday adopted a unanimous resolution reiterating its unfailing support for supply management, a fair agricultural marketing model for consumers, taxpayers, processors and producers.

This motion was presented by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and MNA for Frontenac, Mr. Laurent Lessard, in the run-up to a major Ministerial Conference to be held in Hong Kong this December, in connection with the World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations.

This motion also calls on the federal government to mandate its negotiators to obtain results at the end of this round of negotiations that will allow the supply-managed sectors – milk, chickens, turkeys, table eggs and hatching eggs – to avoid a tariff reduction and an increase in tariff quotas.

"Supply management helps the Quebec agricultural sector maintain human-scale farms. This aspect is especially important since it allows these farms to prosper, contribute to the development of every region in Quebec, and provide a living for farm families, which is the Government of Quebec’s cherished wish," said Mr. Lessard.

The President of the Union des producteurs agricoles and spokesman for GO5, Coalition for a Fair Farming Model, Supply Management, Mr. Laurent Pellerin, expressed deep concern: "On the eve of the renewal of the mandate of Canada’s negotiators, if what is currently on the table at the WTO were to be ratified – based on over-quota tariffs and increased access to our dairy, egg and poultry markets – this would sign the death warrant of commodities under supply management. Yet, there are indications that the Government of Canada would be ready to sign an agreement in Hong Kong, whether or not it is acceptable to agriculture. This is why we are very worried.'"

Supply management is a production organization and marketing system that enables producers to obtain a fair price for their products and ensures consumers of a regular supply of quality products. Commodities under supply management account for nearly 40% of Quebec agricultural revenues, namely $2.3 billion, and generate more than 60,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Over the past few years, the Government of Quebec has expressed its support for supply management through concrete action, on several occasions. Thus, a few weeks ago, Minister Laurent Lessard reiterated his support for the GO5 Coalition, established to explain the importance of supply management in the agricultural field. In June 2004, the National Assembly adopted a resolution to support producers under supply management, at the time of a key phase of these negotiations.

The Minister concluded in the following terms: "The maintenance of supply management is a key issue for Quebec agriculture. The WTO negotiations could affect the future of the dairy, chicken, turkey, table egg and hatching egg sectors. This is why, in adopting this unanimous resolution, the National Assembly is calling on the federal government to mandate its negotiators to ensure that results at the end of the negotiations allow the sectors under supply management to avoid tariff reductions and increased access to their markets."

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