BUSY AGENDA FOR AG MINISTERS MEETING

Canada's Ministers of Agriculture will hold their annual meeting in Brudenell, Prince Edward Island this week.

Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food Minister Mark Wartman said the September 21st-22nd meeting will give the provinces updates on the development of the rules for the new livestock industry BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy) assistance package, the review process for the Agricultural Policy Framework (APF) and World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations.

"We hope to reach agreement in this meeting on the principles for an annual review of the APF," Wartman said. "The annual review was one of the options we asked for when we originally signed on to the agreement. It is important that we lay the groundwork for that process to get off the ground."

Wartman said the review process will give provinces a mechanism to bring forward issues of concern with the APF - such as the affordability of business risk management programs. It may also allow for changes to be made to the APF that will better position Canada's agriculture sector for new trends on the world stage.

"The trading environment and how we conduct ourselves within it will have a huge impact on the future shape of our industry," Wartman said. "We need to push for a level international playing field in WTO negotiation and review how we trade with one of our largest trading partners – the United States. Our trade relationships are the foundation for the industry we will build over the next decade."

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For More Information, Contact:

Scott Brown Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization Regina Phone: (306) 787-4031