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Candidates sound off on new trade pact

The new Trans-Pacific Partnership will benefit farmers, say some Foothills candidates, but others are concerns about loosening rules around supply management systems, particularly for dairy producers.

The new Trans-Pacific Partnership will benefit farmers, say some Foothills candidates, but others are concerns about loosening rules around supply management systems, particularly for dairy producers.

Conservative candidate John Barlow said the agreement was a win-win, opening markets for producers while protecting supply management systems.

“I think we were able to strike a very sound balance,” he said.

A tentative agreement between 12 countries, including Canada, on the historic trade pact was reached Monday morning. The wide-reaching agreement will see tariffs on a range of commodities reduced and increased access to markets for Canadian products, including beef, canola wheat and barley. However, Canada will open more if its dairy, poultry and egg sectors to imports. The agreement still needs to be ratified by parliament after the Oct. 19 election.

Barlow said the agreement protects dairy farmers and others who are part of supply management systems, while providing financial compensation in the event of lost jobs and revenues.

Barlow said Canada would’ve been at a substantial disadvantage for trade with southeast Asian countries if it was not part of the agreement.

He said signing new trade agreements has been and will continue to be a priority of the Conservative party.

NDP candidate Alison Thompson said the government can’t prop up one sector of the industry at the expense of another. While the TPP may benefit beef producers, she is concerned about the impact on dairy producers in the southern part of the riding.

“The immediate area around there is very concerned about TPP and I think I’m really proud that the NDP is saying that ‘yeah, we are for trade however, somebody needs to read the fine print,’” she said.

Libertarian Party candidate Cory Morgan said the TPP will be good for producers because it will open new markets for agricultural products and diversify Canada’s export markets.

He said he wants Canada’s supply management systems to end. This, he said, could allow producers to expand and diversify their operations.

“It’s an obsolete system that’s cost us trading partners all around the world, it’s hindered current producers and kept newer, innovative ones from coming in,” he said.

Liberal candidate Tanya MacPherson said the party supports expanding international trade wherever possible, but she said any deal should not sacrifice dairy farmers.

“We are fully in support of trade deals, because, for instance, usually trading industries pay 50 per cent more for Canadian workers,” she said.

Green Party candidate Romy Tittel said the Green Party is opposed to the TPP agreement and the secrecy surrounding negotiations.

“Nobody knows what has actually been traded off in this agreement and what will be the upside for anybody in any industry across Canada,” she said.

“Christian Heritage Party candidate Marc Slingerland could not be reached for comment.

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