If you’re anything like me then you were
sitting around last week wondering just where the heck our Member of Parliament
had gotten away to. The answer was Washington D.C., of course.
Valeriote was in the US capital with colleagues on the Standing Committee on Agriculture
and Agri-Food to participate in meetings on issues facing the agriculture
industry on both sides of the border. He and the other members of the committee
met with a number of Congressional leaders including Collin Peterson, Chairman
of the House Agriculture Committee.
“It is basically a fact-finding mission to
review the United States’ new Country of Origin Labelling regulations which require the
segregation of Canadian and American livestock and meat,” said Valeriote in a
press release.
The crux is that American processors are
passing the cost of separating Canadian and American hogs and cattle on to
Canadian farmers. The press release cited that Canadian farm families are
disappearing at the rate of approximately 3,600 per year and that such
additional costs, no matter how small could hasten that rate combined with
already high production costs and low prices. “Clearly, such protectionist
efforts hamper Canada-U.S. trade relations in the agriculture industry,” said
Valeriote.
Among Valeriote’s stops were the National
Meat Association, the American Meat Institute, the National Cattlemen’s Beef
Association and the Food Marketing Institute. The Guelph MP added that he was
keeping in mind what he considered the three “S”s of agriculture and agri-food,
Sovereignty, Safety and Security. He also said that he wants to help ensure the
viability of agriculture, not just in and around Guelph, but
throughout Canada.
“President Barack Obama’s successful visit
to Ottawa demonstrates the importance of in-person meetings,” said Valeriote.
“They help to create the foundations for a successful working relationship
vital to tackling the biggest challenges facing our two countries and the
world. “They also underscore a key theme to Mr. Obama's presidency –
multilateralism – working together.”
Guelph gets bronze
in commuter challenge
In Guelph, 230
participants used carpools, transit, bicycles or their own two feet to travel during
Environment Week May 31 to June 6 and compared to other communities of the same
size, the city took third place in the National Commuter Challenge. Commuter
Challenge participants in Guelph travelled more than 20,000 kilometres using more
sustainable transportation methods, and prevented 3,391 kilograms of carbon
emissions by choosing not to drive to work that week. Employers that saved the
biggest included Compusense Inc. with 186 kg of carbon emissions spared, Neil
Consumer Healthcare with 1,045 kg and the City of Guelph with 547 kg
of carbon spared from the air.
Party Hard at City Hall
This Saturday marks the official grand
opening of the New City Hall at 1 Carden Street. The celebration will include local artists, performers and
community groups and everybody coming out will be able to take a tour of the
building, enjoy a barbecue lunch and listen to some great music featuring Funky
Mamas, the Suzuki String School, the Royal City Ambassadors and The Over Tones. Activities will
include Paint the blue boards in front of old City Hall; sidewalk chalk drawing
on Carden and a Guelph Photography Guild exhibition called "What makes Guelph, Guelph." For
more information log on to http://guelph.ca/grandopening
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