Ted Falk, Member of Parliament for Provencher, recently highlighted the Conservative plan to restore Canada’s canola trade with China.
Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer recently laid out three immediate and concrete steps the Liberal government could take to support Canadian canola farmers:
- Appoint an Ambassador to China
- Increase emergency financial aid for producers
- Launch a formal trade complaint against China
“Many farmers, including those in southeast Manitoba, are facing uncertainty as a result of Justin Trudeau’s failed relationship with China,” said Falk. “The Liberal government’s slow response to this crisis is costing farmers and those who rely on them dearly.”
For the last numbers of months, the Liberal government has overseen a steep decline in the Canada-China relationship. In March, the Chinese government halted imports of Canadian canola.
China is Canada’s largest market for canola, accounting for about 40% of all canola seed, oil, and meal exports. Canada’s canola industry contributes an estimated $26.7 billion to the national economy each year and approximately 250,000 jobs are tied to the sector, including 43,000 canola farmers.
“Justin Trudeau has not treated this issue with the urgency it deserves,” said Falk. “Conservatives have stepped up to offer the Liberals a path forward and I call on Justin Trudeau to act on our recommendations swiftly. Our farmers and farm communities deserve nothing less.”
