Committee to probe impact of U.S. trade deal on agriculture
EDMONTON A legislative committee is investigating the possible hit to Alberta’s agriculture sector under the new United States-MexicoCanada Agreement.
The economic futures committee wants to know how USMCA could impact Alberta’s supplymanaged producers and their suppliers, particularly around increased Canadian market access for U.S.-originating dairy, poultry and eggs.
The investigation was originally proposed by Trevor Horne, New Democrat MLA for Spruce GroveSt. Albert, at an October economic futures meeting.
Horne told the committee at the time that although all agriculture is important to Alberta, he had heard some “very specific” concerns from supply-managed producers.
United Conservative committee members originally wanted to broaden the scope of the review to include grain, cattle and all other facets of Alberta’s agriculture sector, but that proposal was defeated.
Richard Starke, Progressive Conservative MLA for Vermilion-Lloydminster, said while expanding the scope makes sense, there has to be a limit somewhere.
“When I first heard this motion, I was once again saying: ‘ Well, why are we just looking at agriculture? Why aren’t we looking at other sectors?’ But at some point you have to decide not to try to boil the ocean,” he said.
Horne told Postmedia on Wednesday night he proposed the investigation to make sure Alberta farmers are getting the best possible deal.
One ratified, USMCA will replace NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement inked in 1994. That hasn’t happened yet, but Horne said it’s important the committee get a better sense of what issues are facing farmers.
“I think it’s important to have these conversations earlier rather than later. I’d rather know what to expect,” he said.
The committee agreed at its Wednesday night meeting to pursue a wide swath of briefings on USMCA, including how it differs from NAFTA and what steps the federal agriculture department is taking to address the new trade agreement.
It will first hear a technical briefing from Alberta Agriculture and Forestry.
Standing orders give the committee six months to come up with a substantive report about how USMCA might affect agriculture in the province, making it due on April 11.
Given the time constraints, the committee agreed to hear from experts and stakeholders first, then decide whether or not public consultation is warranted.