(File photo/farmnewsNOW Staff)

By Alice McFarlane

Canadian Canola

Opposition leader says farmers are paying for weak leadership

Apr 29, 2019 | 10:12 AM

The leader of the Conservative party and the official opposition recently criticized the Prime Minister’s leadership on the canola dispute with China.

Andrew Scheer said Canada’s canola crisis is a consequence of Justin Trudeau’s weak leadership and called on him to take three immediate and concrete steps to restore the canola trade with China.

“Canadians are paying for Justin Trudeau’s weak leadership and poor judgment,” Scheer said in a news release. “Canola producers are only the latest victims of these failures. He has allowed China to walk all over him without defending Canada’s security and economic interests. Canadians deserve better.”

Scheer called on Trudeau to immediately appoint an ambassador to China, increase emergency financial aid for producers and launch a formal trade complaint against China.

Agriculture Roundup

Agriculture Roundup for Wednesday, October 30, 2024

Oct 30, 2024

organic crop

Wild rice production plummets compared to 2023

Oct 23, 2024

Connecting Farmers to Available Land

Young Agrarians to host Land Linking Workshop in Kelowna

Oct 16, 2024

Scheer also said he would pull Canada’s $256 million funding commitment to the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank saying the investment of Canadian tax dollars to support infrastructure projects in other countries was intended to improve trade relations between Canada and China.

“This is a failed experiment,” Scheer said. “China is clearly using the Infrastructure Bank to expand its influence. As Prime Minister I will not allow Canadian tax dollars to be used for that purpose in a country that is working against us.”

Scheer also highlighted other examples of Canadian producers losing market access in foreign markets because of his failures on the world stage, including restrictions on Canadian durum wheat in Italy, pulses in India, and wheat in Vietnam.

At the House of Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food, Canadians heard from an Alberta canola farmer that he could lose up to $150,000 this year if the canola trade with China is not restored.

“His failed relationship with China and his slow response to this crisis are costing Canadian farmers dearly,” Scheer said.

–

alice.mcfarlane@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @AliceMcF