Still madness in the beef industry

News Release
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

OTTAWA, August 19, 2004 - Developing a long-term solution for the BSE situation was a key topic of discussion during a call held yesterday between Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Andy Mitchell and his provincial counterparts.
“We understand how difficult this past year has been for the industry, and we are committed to working with them to find a long-term solution to the situation,” said Minister Mitchell. “Along with the provinces, we are looking at a series of measures that would help them shift to a more sustainable basis of operation despite the border closure.” Minister Mitchell also noted with appreciation the efforts of the Canadian Cattlemen Association and others in the industry who are working hard to deal with this difficult situation.
In the meantime, the Government of Canada is continuing its efforts to get trading partners to base decisions related to market access on science. Work is underway at all levels to make this happen.
In conjunction with these efforts, both the Government of Canada and the provinces have provided approximately $1.7 billion through targeted BSE programs, above and beyond what has been provided through regular programming.