OTTAWA – In the wake of a new case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in Canadian beef, NDP leader Tom Mulcair is calling on the Conservatives to take swift action to protect Canadian farmers.
“Driven by ideology the Conservatives have gutted the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s budget and laid off hundreds of vital staff. This puts the quality and reputation of Canadian products at risk,” said Mr. Mulcair in a speech at the Canadian Federation of Agriculture annual meeting.
While the Conservatives assured farmers that the new case of BSE wouldn’t impact their access to foreign markets, ?five countries, accounting for $43 million in exports annually, have already banned Canadian beef.
“New Democrats understand the importance of maintaining access to foreign markets and supporting consumer confidence in Canadian products,” added Mr. Mulcair. “That’s why we’re calling on the Conservatives to stop dragging their feet and to take action to protect our beef exports right now.”
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