Canada still locks US border.

[rusty1]

Canada-U.S. border to stay closed to cattle - Minister
Canadian scientists have recommended that imports of live cattle from the United States remain suspended for the time being, Agriculture Minister Lyle Vanclief said on Tuesday.

He said the recommendation is tied to the presence of blue tongue disease and anaplasmosis in the United States, and not to to Canada's mad cow crisis.

"All risk assessments by the scientists at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Health Canada to date have indicated that the (Canada-U.S.) border should remain closed," Vanclief said in response to an opposition question in the House of Commons as to why live cattle trade had not resumed.

A U.S. cattle and beef lobbying group said last week it expects Canada to lift barriers to purchases of U.S. cattle before the United States reopens its border to Canadian live cattle, banned in May due to concerns about mad cow disease.

The dispute revolves around Canadian rules that allow the import of U.S. feeder cattle during cold-weather months, when they are least likely to spread disease. The U.S. industry wants year-round access.

Ottawa had been considering a pilot project to allow expanded imports of U.S. cattle, but it was put on hold this summer in the midst of the mad cow crisis, a Canadian official has said.

Trade in live Canadian cattle to the United States was halted following the discovery on May 20 of one case of mad cow disease in Alberta.

In the next few weeks, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is expected to publish proposed rules that would lead to a reopening of the U.S. border for some live Canadian cattle, such as young animals thought to be at lowest risk for mad-cow disease.

Source: Reuters

October 7, 2003

[cowman]

Neil Janke recently came out with a statement about how necessary it was to let in the blue tongue cattle if we hope to sell beef into the US. I wonder if he got his marching orders from Cargill or IBP? Now I have to ask...Does Neil understand what this disease could do to our cow/calf producers or is he in the dark? Is that the price the Americans are demanding to let us sell our cattle? Is that why he's pushing it; because he knows that's the deal and the fix is in?
The longer this goes the sicker I get of Americans! Using our misfortune for their gain. I'm beginning to think when Ronald Reagan was talking about the "Evil Empire" he should have been looking in the mirror!

[kato]

Before we crumble on this one, we have to think, "What would happen if it was our cattle that carried the bluetongue?"

Ask any producer from Manitoba who lives in the "TB zone" around Riding Mountain National Park. Cattle from there need a permit every time they get in a truck, even to go to their own pastures, and need to be tested before going to new homes. It's the price we pay to eradicate disease. We live with it.

[ivbinconned]

Cowman, your anti American feelings just might be tempered a little if you would read Doctor Leiss's report that I mentioned in another thread. You will find there that everything you accuse the U.S. of, we are guilty of our selves.
The biggest problem with leadership is their tendency to live in a vacume which gives them an inability to see the unintended consequences of there actions or lack of action.
We too are guilty of ignoring other countries protests of our policys.
You must read that report!!

[kato]

There is a definite consequence to letting bluetongue into the country. Hopefully the government will stick to their guns on that one.

As for "our policy" and "everyone elses policy", everyone needs to change that. The rules that were written for the British situation just don't apply any more. We followed the old rules, just like every other country in the world. What else were we supposed to do? We would have lost American markets if we let in Japanese beef, and now we are losing American markets because of Japanese opinion.

The Canadian situation may be the catalyst for changing for the better in the future. Countries are more aware of the differences between thousands of head in the food chain, and one animal out of the food chain. I personally think the rules will change. No one else wants to take the kicking that we have over the last few months!