Ministers Fast & Ritz Deeply Disappointed in U.S. Decision To Appeal WTO Ruling on MCOOL.

[bucket]

Mbdog

The ministers had the right to implement retaliatory measures after th ef first ruling.

Right or wrong they have been talking about measures for a long time.

Just do it.

[Hopalong]

As much as I agree with emotion and patience growing thin, we can consider our trade dependent position versus that of US farmers.
If there is any sort of reasonable way to avoid one, it is in our interests to go more than half way toward not escalating things into a trade war.
Politicians often like to play on our fear and emotion to support protectionist measures they think will appeal to voters.
Recall a North Dakota wheat and grain growers meeting where a senator could barely hide his glee over a new case of BSE in Canada. He thought it would play out well for him.
Somewhat similar situation with Devils Lake outlet and Garrison diversion where Manitoba and Canadian politicians dragged their feet.
Vision for future is free markets, free trade and open borders and hope we can work in that direction rather than opposite one.

[mbdog]

Re: pipeline and COOL...the best way to handle a bully is ignore him/move on. In this case those bullies are on 3 sides of the prairie provinces.
This should be a consideration as they go forward given the latest developments/politics. Escalating trade wars/tensions between Canada/US is a bad idea.

[mbdog]

bucket...I do agree a token retaliatory action wouldn't hurt though.

[fjlip]

Fed minister talk to voters never to the US. We are and should be scared of the monster economy to our south. Meekly ask for crumbs, never piss them off. Just a fact of life.

[foragefarmer]

Blackpowder

We need a different president? Maybe we should ask the Americans to bring George W. back?
How about we need a new Ag Minister someone a little more qualified than a failed Ostrich farmer. Yourself, Mbdog, Hopealong and Braveheart (who I guess must still be sleeping as he hasn't joined the defenders of Ritz campaign)never demand any accountability from this current Ag Minister nor Government but simply blame everybody else for Ritz's screw ups and point fingers else where.I get you dislike JT and the NDP, but does there not come a point when you eat a little crow and realize that Ritz is way over his head, and that we need an Ag minister who is capable.

It's is so obvious that Ritz and this Government takes the rural vote for granted. Other than eliminating the CWB, which I know several poster on here were in favour of, what else has he done for farmers. He reduced Ag support programs, gutted the CGC, eliminated PFRA, reacted slowly to the grain movement crisis last winter etc etc. But hey you guys carry on your merry ways, all is fine and well, and your support will never waver.

[bucket]

Can only say I agree with you forage.

There will come a time that Ritz's supporters will realize he is way past his competency level.

But it will be too late.

[Braveheart]

Yes Forage, I was close to napping. Too tiring listening you drone on about Conservatives.

Re Ritz, he'll have to defend himself. I consider him a weak minister without a vision or goals for the industry. His portfolio is driven by high ranking civil servants with little clue as to real agricultural issues. Their purpose seems directed to boot licking treasury.

Forage, if you think the Liberals are any better on the trade file dream on. As an NGO at Seattle WTO in 1999, I saw the Liberals in action, or inaction.

Keep foraging.

[farmaholic]

Don't even give him the credit of being able to make the decisions the government is putting forward. He is a puppet, like just about every other Minister. Government is deep and decisions are made deep in the bowels of government. It's just that someone has to be in front of the camera, and if they always pick the "right person" is what should be questioned.


<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q605/yip2/220px-IronMaiden_NumberOfBeast.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 220px-IronMaiden_NumberOfBeast.jpg"/></a>


Ritz is in the foreground.

[Braveheart]

That character is too powerful.

Was that lP cover from your personal collection Farmaholic? Are you a Metal Head?

[farmaholic]

The quality of the image is poor, and I'm sure some would say in more that one way!!

The demon in the foreground has green lines(signifying strings) attached to him, like a puppet, and being controlled by the"chararcter" behind him.

A blast from the past. (And crude).

[Oliver88]

IMO What we have now is a president of the US that takes orders from his financial donors in Hollywood so that is why Keystone hasn't been passed yet.
There is a good chance the Keystone pipeline will be passed in January or February after several democrat senators are kicked out of office and replaced with 8 republicans.
After this is done is when Canada could start with sanctions against the US.

[samhill]

IDK, the Americans own our oil, own our railroads, and lots of other stuff, like feedlots, likely food processing and distribution, haven't researched it all. If anyone else has info on that I'd like to know. But maybe that protects us as well as hurts us. Trade with them is better than not.