Cam Ostercamp essay

[kato]

Actually, to get them to open their books will show the entire Canadian public just how things are run in the cattle business.

I don't think anyone has any idea just what a stranglehold these businesses have on our industry. To make it public will really open some eyes, and may be the catalyst we need to make some REAL changes.

[grassfarmer]

Samsdad, "all of the time and money spent trying to get the packers to open their books" In the grand scheme of things how much time or money has been spent on this?
It's only in the last couple of weeks politicians have started to do this - remember all the months of zero Federal involvement last summer? Our taxes pay the politicians full time anyway so there was no additional cost. Given the scale of the disaster they have devoted very little time to the entire crisis and appear to be doing so now just prior to calling an election in a cheap attempt to buy Western votes.
As I suspected you can come up with no constructive ideas of better use of our/ the politicians time - this seems to be the case with all the people taking the official "wait and see if the US opens the border" supporters including politicians CFIA, CCA, ABP.
A total leadership void.

[jensend]

somebody's gonna have to get it through to the boys at cca that the horse they're beating is dead and it's time for a new strategy. you'd think they would have figured it by now; they must have heard it often enough but there seems to be a wilful deafness (to be charitable) on their part.

[rsomer]

I am not sure that there was anything that could have been done to prevent this crisis. If there is a leadership void is it here or is it in the U.S. of A? In hindsight as a nation we were too dependent upon shipping live cattle to the U.S. across an international border. But shipping live cattle was encouraged by the U.S. so that the value adding took place south of the line. American owned packers did not take over the Canadian industry just because of advantages of economy of scale. Obstacles were put in the path of Canadian firms looking to export beef to the U.S. There was not a level playing field for Canadian companies even after NAFTA was signed. U.S. customs purposely made life difficult for Canadian owned packers, these problems disappeared when the same plants were taken over by U.S. interests. The rise of protectionism in the U.S. is surely the root of our problems more than a void of leadership in Canada.

What can Canadians do? I am afraid not much. The future of our industry will be shaped by the U.S. NAFTA has left our politicians and leaders powerless to put up an effective response to U.S. protectionism and self interest. A simple void in leadership does not explain the softwood lumber dispute, the salmon fishery dispute, the BSE crisis and so on. Changes... change to what? Changing the leadership, changing the government, changing our beef organizations is not going to make the U.S. change its position and policies.

There is not so much a void in leadership as a void in political and economic power within Canada to influence U.S. policies. We gave that power up when we joined NAFTA.

If you are looking for constructive ideas, I would offer the suggestion that Canada needs to form political alliances with other nations that share the common interest of joining together to effectively stand up to the U.S. An economic United Nations of which the U.S. may not be allowed to participate in. A U.S. free WTO, a G8 minus one. Of course it will never happen because the U.S. has the guns, the rest of the world is disarmed. Unless, just maybe, the world is so disgusted with the Americans after their handling of the Iraq situation that they finally see the U.S. for the hideous monster it is.

[rsomer]

I have a hard time with the America thing. I still and always beleive that problems arise from radical individuals, or groups, but the majority of the population in any country are just people trying to survive like you and me.

Just had a good half hour with Cam Ostergard on the phone. I would recommend a call for anyone who wants to hear, not only a man with passion, but an organized approach to most of our thoughts.
You are definately on the right track with approaching other countries rsomer. There is nothing wrong with being an exporting country. We have a product that all of the world envies (even some Americans)and we need to keep this industry going for the sake of all Canadians, not just us good old farmdogs.

Find new trading partners, and test the cattle for BSE. Or test the cattle for BSE and find new trading partners. Better than sitting on our asses and quibbling over who's to blame.

Politicains tried, an will never admit that they failed. Packers grabbed and can't be blamed for simply profiting in a free market. Scientist can't decide which scientist is righter. Customers still buy the beef. Which of these four groups of people are the most important to us?

[blackjack]

rsomer... a lot of you say is true about how the americans control us... but that does not make it right ... I think rpkaiser is right , we are in a food industry and at the end of the day the consumer will decide the policy of what they want! What happens when the science on BSE fails in the USA ? Their market will crash and their government and USDA will have no credibility left !Can we as cattle producers take that chance! I agree there is a lot of good leaders at the top but they also need to be able to change ,if the system is not working . If it takes testing to open more markets that I guess is what we need to do. I guess what I'm trying to say after watching my part of industry get raked over the coals is that its time for the cow- calf's voice to be heard.

[cowman]

I have to agree with rsomer...he has hit the nail right on the head!
In the really big picture NAFTA has been a boon for this country and if the Americans want to shaft us on a few things, that is just how it is?
We have no leverage. The Americans own us pure and simple! And unfortunately if that means they trash some of our industries, then in fact they can do it!
But lets not forget that we are also making one hell of a lot of money off them in the oil and gas and electricity!
I suspect that they will never find a US mad cow? I mean obviously the 3S solution is in effect big time down there? And much as I hate to think it I doubt the border will open this year...maybe never!
The US is going through some pretty bizarre times right now! I believe Iraq will be their next Vietnam. They are in way over their heads on this one? All they've accomplished is making the world hate them even more which is unfortunate because they are a good people with horrible leaders, and unfortunately, we are in bed with them, and can expect to share in the worlds wrath?