Well now... it looks like the current government has risen to the occasion, at least for dairy farmers. Minister Strahl made a major announcement at the Dairy Farmers of Canada Annual Meeting last week. The subject was Article 28, which DFC has been demanding for quite some time. The real issue of compositional standards for cheeses was left blowing in the wind, the Minister imposed no decisions but again asked the players to come back to the table to continue their discussions. So, the prospect of an all out lobby war by one of the most vocal and well organised farm groups in Canada, has been avoided.
But what did DFC really get? I believe they got sidelined very neatly. Since Article 28 involves a lengthy process, notifying the players (at the WTO), providing for a comment period (sounds like the rule in the BSE dispute) and other bureaucratic stuff, it is highly unlikely that this issue will be addressed in any concrete, measurable manner, any time soon.
But in appearing to give the dairy farmers what they have wanted on the Article 28 issue, I am sure the Minister has been able to calm the fears of Canadian processors by reminding them how long it can take for any of these things to grind their way through the twisted corridors of the WTO and it's related agreements. The single largest issue to remember is that this process has been implemented by a Minority Government!!! It is very likely the government will fall, long before Article 28 sees any concrete results for dairy farmers.
The Minister has also now given DFC a reason to keep a low profile on the Canadian Wheat Board issue. Hmmmnnn?!?
Meanwhile, rumours are rife, that the government is actively trying to find a way to force/direct/contrive an election issue. One joke has it, that the new nasty commercials about M. Dion might be all about making the Liberals angry enough to force an election.
In their obvious desire to find a way to lull Canadians into voting in a majority Conservative Government, much of the government's activities have been all about stall, stall, stall. The exception is the Wheat Board issue, which they are actively trying to rush through! It makes no sense to me that this government would want to make any progress for dairy, when on every other major portfolio, they obfuscate!
Whomever designed this cute little smoke screen for the Minister must be smiling..-cg
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