Agriculture Canada sends out periodic press releases, usually proclaiming the good work of Agriculture Minister Gerry “Puttin’ on the” Ritz’s office in assisting “farmers.” I’ve decided to take it upon myself to present some of the statements made by Minister Ritz’ office and decipher them because they can’t be taken at face value. In this segment I’ll reprint most of the press release, and provide commentary, or the “straight dope” on what the press releases really mean for agriculture in Canada. Let’s take a look at the meat, so to speak, from the following press release:
NEW MARKET ACCESS FOR CANADIAN AGRICULTURE IN MONGOLIA
OTTAWA, Ontario, June 16, 2009 – Canadian farmers and exporters now have new market opportunities in Mongolia for beef, cattle and swine and their products. Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz made the announcement today after meeting with Mongolia’s Minister for Food, Agriculture and Light Industry, the Honourable Tunjin Badamjunai.
Good news! I, as a member of Canada’s governing elite, have met with a member of Mongolia’s governing elite to hash out a deal whereby members of Canada’s agricultural-economic elite will have access to another market to exploit.
“Market by market, commodity by commodity, this Government is making sure Canadian farmers have every opportunity to reach customers around the world,” said Minister Ritz. “Today’s announcement is an important development in relations between our two countries, and opens doors to many new exports and opportunities in agricultural cooperation.”
Canadian farmers are hurting. Rather than examining the systemic issues facing producers such as the consolidation of meat packing into the hands of several large American corporations (sorry, there’s also a Canadian conglomerate on the scene now), or the dismally low prices they offer our producers for their products, we figure adding yet another market will help “farmers.” By that we mean the middlemen (Cargill, for example) that profit the most off of finished products and exports. We’re not really sure what Mongolian farmers, or Mongolians in general will get out of this. Nor do we know what Mongolia will send us in return. Oh yeah, they’ll export their money and we’ll export our meat!
“The Government’s decision to open a new Embassy in Ulaanbataar last year is already paying dividends,” said International Trade Minister Stockwell Day, who met with Minister Badamjunai on Monday to discuss further trade cooperation. “We are the second largest foreign investor in Mongolia and our existing strong commercial relationship in the mining sector is broadening into real opportunities for Canada’s agricultural producers.”
Rather than letting those silly Mongolians own and control their own economy, we think it’s a great opportunity for us to extract any wealth we can from a country that ranks 150th in the world in GDP. Forget the fact that many of Mongolia’s traditionally nomadic herders will have industrial Canadian competition. Not only are we going to compete with their traditional agricultural sector, we also hope that we can make some easy cash off of their mineral resources.
The recent approval of several Canadian Food Inspection Agency export certificates demonstrates once again the appetite for our safe, high quality products on international markets. Canadian agriculture and food products that can be exported to Mongolia are: live cattle, live swine, ovine/caprine genetics (sheep/goats), bovine genetics, porcine semen, day old chicks and hatching eggs, and meat products, including all beef and beef products.
They can buy anything from us! We can send living animals thousands of miles, causing undue stress if we like! They can even buy our semen! Forget the fact that anything we sell can be produced locally, with little energy consumption–large corporate “farmers” need in!
Minister Ritz met his Mongolian counterpart in Ottawa today to discuss agriculture cooperation and trade opportunities between the two countries. As part of this mission, Minister Badamjunai and his governmental and business delegation will also travel to Saskatchewan, a province with which Mongolia has a close agricultural relationship.
Now we’re off to Saskie! Blah blah blah.
Majestic images of Mongolian cattle-yaak mules courtesy Steve Burt with a CC license.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
This was fantastic. LOVED the translation! What you’ve done is put into words the “off” feeling I had about this press release.
Thank you!
Very illuminating insight into ag politics for those who don’t receive such “literature”. Thanks very much.
Top notch.
What Canadians export meat to Mongolia or Mongolians to Canada. We mongolian have cheaper and higher quility beef than Canadian. Who will pay it stupid