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NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE WTO

OUR LOCAL AND FAMILY AGRICULTURE THREATENED

Under the theme "Feeding Our People First!", the walk gathered more than 1,000 representatives of the Coalition coming from the various areas of Quebec and of various circles, including many families. By this action, they wanted to demonstrate their attachment to our local agriculture and to encourage the federal government to maintain its aggressive defence of our agriculture interests in the ongoing negotiations with the WTO.

Among those present, let's mention: Mr. Laurent Lessard, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of Quebec; Mr. Pierre-Marc Johnson, adviser of the Coalition GO5; Mr. Pierre Véronneau, director general of Oxfam Québec; Mr. Michel Librowicz, director of the Philippe Pariseault Chair for Training in Agri-food Market Globalization (UQAM); Mr. Serge Riendeau, president of Agropur; Mr. Denis Richard, president of La Coop fédérée; Mr. Laurent Pellerin, president of the Union des producteurs agricoles, as well as representatives of the Quebec and Canadian agricultural community.

The dairy, poultry and egg sectors are endangered

The main objective of the next WTO round of negotiations is to make agriculture an economic sector similar to the others, and to subject it to the harmful effects of an out-and-out liberalization. However, agriculture is a real and unique driver for economic and social development in our regions and must be considered as such.

The proposals currently tabled at the WTO speak for a reduction of customs tariffs, which are critical tools for the supply management system implemented in Canada more than thirty years ago. How could we adjust the supply to the demand of Canadian consumers if we cannot keep largely subsidized commodities coming in particular from the United States from crossing our borders at dumped prices?

"Decreasing these tariffs would be catastrophic for the future of our productions and would impact the society as a whole, not only agricultural producers", declared Mr. Pierre-Marc Johnson, special adviser of the Coalition GO5.

Among the possible consequences of a complete opening of markets, let's mention:

• the gradual replacement of our agricultural products by imported products, which would jeopardize the food self-sufficiency of Quebec and Canada;
• an increased dependence of local consumers on imported products, and a notable rise in consumer prices;
• the transport of food over longer distances, which would have negative impacts on the environment and the quality of the products;
• the concentration and industrialization of agriculture, and the disappearance of human-scale farms.

An equitable agriculture model

The agricultural production model preferred by Quebec and Canadian dairy, poultry and egg producers is supply management, which makes it possible to adjust the production to the demand of local consumers in order to feed our local population first and to avoid surpluses.

Supply management guarantees consumers access to local products of quality at affordable prices - among the cheaper in the world - while ensuring the producers a more stable and fair income. This model helps safeguarding local production by smaller farms, which is advantageous for the development of regions and the protection of environment.

"The 30,000 members of the Coalition are strongly attached to supply management, a solution that is envied by many countries in the world. It is one of the only (if not the only) true alternative to counterbalance the model supported by some States and several multinational companies, a model that has caused the impoverishment of farmers worldwide over the last ten years", argued Mr. Pellerin.

The walk proceeded in a friendly atmosphere that reflects the pride of the participants regarding the Quebec agricultural model. The walkers left the World Trade Center, crossed the Chinatown, and move towards the Spectrum where a gathering took place in the afternoon. Throughout their route, the walkers gave to the passers-by fortune cookies containing the following message: "Feeding Our People First!"

For more information on the Coalition GO5, on the agricultural stakes with the WTO, and on supply management, please visit: www.go5quebec.ca.

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