The 'Smoke & Mirror' Battle Continues

During the last month or two, Conservative politicians have been inserting new statistics and troubling words into their parliamentary responses that should be raising your level of concern. It has sure set off alarm bells for me.

Recent examples include: "farmers, exporters, processors", '90% of our farmers, who rely on exports', "only one out of 148 countries", "offensive and defensive positions".

You don't have to look very far to understand where a Western politician may have come up with some of this stuff!

Here is one example :

" This the first time since the last election that the Conservative Party of Canada has clearly articulated a position supporting trade liberalization. This clear statement should not stand alone, but be followed by a platform that articulates the needs of the 90% of farmers who depend upon world markets for their livelihoods, as well as the other export-oriented industries in Canada. "

For the full article see... ( Frontier Center for Public Policy )

This is patent nonsense. Real statistics demonstrate that :

The bulk - 70% - of Canada’s agri-food revenue (that is farms AND processors) comes from the Canadian market. Exports represent less than 30% of agri-food income.

Breakdown of income from all Canadian food - 70% domestic

- 20% U.S. and Mexico (covered by NAFTA)

- 10% to other countries

Therefore, the WTO accounts for only 10% of agri-food income in Canada – similar to what international trade brings to other countries as well.


If the current government pursues export markets at the cost of the supply managed farmers in Canada, Canada's own domestic food supply could be in peril. This is the downloading and greater cost that could accrue to taxpayers. The public would eventually have to support those farmers, just to ensure a domestic food supply.

Why destroy a group of farmers, who earn a decent living from the domestic marketplace, without cost to the consumer?

By chasing this right wing fantasy, politicians are NOT serving the public or the country well.