Frontier Centre

The Canada-Europe Free Trade Agreement is a major milestone for the country.

The potential impact will be hugely positive, especially for prairie agriculture.

Among the greatest beneficiaries would be cattle ranchers in several provinces.

Increased duty-free access to European markets could mean as much an additional $600 million a year in revenue.

Similar gains are likely in canola, with a potential doubling of exports from 90 million dollars to 180 million dollars a year.

Prairie wheat producers have traditionally focused on high-quality grain for the European market, but the removal of a tariff on low protein product will mean a greater opportunity for all farmers.

Barley growers should also experience a boon. Not only will exports of malting increase, but even greater gains may be derived through feed sales to livestock producers.

Canadian dairy producers who have long enjoyed the protection of supply management are upset about the increase in Europe’s cheese quota, and they are anxious to protect the high-end cheese market which might be jeopardized by the free trade agreement.

But the deal has been signed, and once it’s ratified by the 28 member countries of the EU, Canadian agriculture will see a massive net benefit.

I’m Roger Currie. Join us again next week for more thoughts on the Frontier.

For more on agricultural policy, visit our website www.fcpp.org.

The Canada-Europe Free Trade Agreement is a major milestone for the country.

The potential impact will be hugely positive, especially for prairie agriculture.

Among the greatest beneficiaries would be cattle ranchers in several provinces.

Increased duty-free access to European markets could mean as much an additional $600 million a year in revenue.

Similar gains are likely in canola, with a potential doubling of exports from 90 million dollars to 180 million dollars a year.

Prairie wheat producers have traditionally focused on high-quality grain for the European market, but the removal of a tariff on low protein product will mean a greater opportunity for all farmers.

Barley growers should also experience a boon. Not only will exports of malting increase, but even greater gains may be derived through feed sales to livestock producers.

Canadian dairy producers who have long enjoyed the protection of supply management are upset about the increase in Europe’s cheese quota, and they are anxious to protect the high-end cheese market which might be jeopardized by the free trade agreement.

But the deal has been signed, and once it’s ratified by the 28 member countries of the EU, Canadian agriculture will see a massive net benefit.

I’m Roger Currie. Join us again next week for more thoughts on the Frontier.

For more on agricultural policy, visit our website www.fcpp.org.

Activists are continuing to work hard in an effort to block the construction of major oil pipelines like the proposed Northern Gateway project.

As a result, oil companies have turned to alternatives, like moving crude by rail.

But the tragedy at Lac Megantic, Quebec strongly suggests that such alternatives pose greater dangers to people and to the environment.

Terrible spills have occurred in the past when oil moves across water by tanker.

With fewer pipelines transporting Canadian oil across the country, we need to import more oil from overseas.

Pipelines involve a much lower risk of spills and derailments.

They can be routed away from populated areas. Modern pipelines also have leak-detection systems that will shut them down automatically if a rupture occurs.

Shipping oil by rail, truck or tanker can also mean the release of more exhaust and pollutants into the atmosphere.

Fuel is essential to heat our homes on the prairies.

It also allows us to safely and quickly travel long distances, and it sustains our standard of living.

Experience has shown that pipelines are the safest and most responsible way to transport fuel.

I’m Roger Currie. Join us again next week for more thoughts on the Frontier.

For more on energy policy, visit our website www.fcpp.org.

Activists are continuing to work hard in an effort to block the construction of major oil pipelines like the proposed Northern Gateway project.

As a result, oil companies have turned to alternatives, like moving crude by rail.

But the tragedy at Lac Megantic, Quebec strongly suggests that such alternatives pose greater dangers to people and to the environment.

Terrible spills have occurred in the past when oil moves across water by tanker.

With fewer pipelines transporting Canadian oil across the country, we need to import more oil from overseas.

Pipelines involve a much lower risk of spills and derailments.

They can be routed away from populated areas. Modern pipelines also have leak-detection systems that will shut them down automatically if a rupture occurs.

Shipping oil by rail, truck or tanker can also mean the release of more exhaust and pollutants into the atmosphere.

Fuel is essential to heat our homes on the prairies.

It also allows us to safely and quickly travel long distances, and it sustains our standard of living.

Experience has shown that pipelines are the safest and most responsible way to transport fuel.

I’m Roger Currie. Join us again next week for more thoughts on the Frontier.

For more on energy policy, visit our website www.fcpp.org.