PREMIERS SUPPORT CATTLE INDUSTRY

Premier Lorne Calvert today secured the support of his provincial colleagues for the Canadian cattle industry and the food safety system.

"Premiers feel that the border should be opened as soon as possible," Calvert said. "The CFIA investigation is complete. Their investigation received high praise from independent, international experts. Good science and good common sense must take command. It's time to confront those who would keep the border closed for political purposes."

Premiers agreed to work with the federal government to work aggressively to re-open export markets to the U.S. and our other major trading partners and to work with individual governors and the National Governors Association to request their assistance in reopening the border.

"We endorse new measures to completely remove specified risk materials from the food chain and we encourage the federal government to work with the United States to move forward together on this initiative," Calvert said.

Premiers are calling for the suspension of further issuance of supplementary import permits, with a view to ensuring maximum opportunity for Canadian producers.

Premier Calvert made the statements at the conclusion of the Annual Premiers' Conference in Charlottetown, P. E. I.

Communiques from the Annual Premiers' Conference are available on the Canadian Intergovernmental Conference Secretariat website at www.scics.gc.ca.

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