Bell Back From World Trade Organization Talks

Sunday, December 18, 2005 04:09 PM

Pat Bell arrives at the Prince George airport after a 25-hour trip

B.C.'s Agriculture Minister is calling the last-minute deal reached by the 149 members at the World Trade Organization gathering in Hong Kong "tapioca pudding".

Pat Bell says, "It's something that everybody finds edible, but no one really enjoys."

The agreement will see wealthy countries eliminate farm export subsidies by 2013 and cuts some trade barriers immediately, but it's a far cry from the ambitious goal at the outset of cutting farm and industrial tariffs & subsidies.

The MLA for Prince George-North says he would have liked to see a stronger outcome. He finds the 2013 date distant, but says it's not all doom and gloom. "It certainly is a good thing from our perspective, (there's) slightly increased market access for some of our products, we need to continue to focus on that."

Bell says B.C. presents a bit of a double-edged sword. "We have our supply-managed industries which include dairy, egg, chicken hatchers, turkey -- those are protected, they continue to be protected, that's a good thing from our perspective."

"The downside is we didn't get the increased market access for our beef industry that we were really looking for, there are huge opportunities for us, specifically in Europe, if we're able to tear down some of the subsidies the European Union has, we did not achieve that in this round."

Bell points out Canada is the 3rd largest exporter in the world of agricultural products and the 5th largest importer and says with all the provincial agriculture ministers, the federal minister, and several MP's in attendance, the Canadian contingent was able to flex its muscle.
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Posted on Sunday, December 18, 2005 04:09 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on December 18 2005 7:53 PM

Lefty, no one cares if you wear PJ's. Try to be a little more considerate, and we won't talk about your clothes either.
But, we will if you are thinking about asking for a subsidy to buy your European silk PJ's!

Posted by: Gofaster on December 19 2005 5:48 AM

i am sure he followed good ole Gordon's instructions and sold out the province as they have all along

Posted by: acrider54 on December 19 2005 6:28 AM

I agree with Gofaster

Posted by: gypsy on December 19 2005 8:15 AM

Who cares what he wears??? Anyone who has travelled on long trips knows comfortable clothing should be the choice.
European silk P J's would not be acceptable, but anything over and above them surely would. Actually, maybe the silk P J's would be a "nice touch"and start a new fashion for travellers.
Of course he could not accomplish a great deal.
Impossible to do any type of head count on the number of police officers required to hold back the farmers who were on the verge of rioting over this WTO meeting.
I would imagine those in attendance would just want to board a plane and get the hell home.
I bet it was not a pleasant trip.
You can be certain nothing of any substance was accomplished.
How can he be absolutely truthful and say it was a waste of time and taxpayers dollars???
Just another lesson in futility for Bell!!!
Anybody know where I can get those P J's?
Make a nice Christmas gift!!!

Posted by: wrinkledawg on December 19 2005 8:29 AM

How come I don't see any of you Clowns stepping up to the plate and doing his job??.
Do you guys have anything positive to say?
As far as what he wears when traveling is really none of your business.
Heck your momma probley dressed you funny when you were a kid.:)

Posted by: diplomat on December 19 2005 10:12 AM

There is nothing wrong with wearing jeans and a sweater for a 25 hour (!) return flight!

Now, Mr. Bell, how about getting REALLY serious about re-surfacing First Avenue from Victoria Street to Ritchie Bros. Auction Place, as promised for the last two years, in writing!

As soon as the frost is out of the ground I expect action, and no further delays! Come on now, this stretch isn't even safe anymore.

Is it true that the Chinese don't eat "Chinese food"?

Posted by: Gofaster on December 19 2005 10:31 AM

I don't know of anyone who would want his job...how can any one want to be a puppet for a criminal like Gordon Campbell

Posted by: gypsy on December 19 2005 10:34 AM

Not the kind we eat, Dip!!!
The real stuff takes many hours of preparation, and is far tastier than our fare prepared and served to us by the Chinese in this country.
As for your First Avenue, let me give you a friendly reminder-all monies paid by taxpayers have been slated for the year 2010 expenses. There may be a few crumbs to spread around, but really, all the way to Richie Bros,
This is not an "ask and ye shall receive" period of time for the government.
If you do not ask for anything, and you receive nothing, think of it this way!!!
You will not be disappointed!!!

Posted by: fedup on December 19 2005 11:11 AM

I can't believe his clothing was even mentioned come on people.Most everything in this town is paid for by people who don't dress up every day.As for the roads I am on them all the time and they are not perfect but they are improving all the time lots of catch up thank to the NDP who did nothing for years.

Posted by: diplomat on December 19 2005 12:14 PM

>"...how can any one want to be a puppet for a criminal like Gordon Campbell."

When NDP premiers cheat, lie and deceive the public they are saints, of course.

Anyone else is a criminal, even if he isn't.

Posted by: diplomat on December 19 2005 12:33 PM

>As for the roads I am on them all the time and they are not perfect but they are improving all the time lots of catch up thank to the NDP who did nothing for years.<

You are 100% correct! Except that the re-paving of First Avenue was already approved 3 years ago and budgeted for, but postponed once again.

When Mike Harcourt took over he decimated the highways budget by reducing it from 1.4 billion to 0.3 billion, while running up a deficit of 3.4 billion in one year.

The other 3 NDP premiers did not think of safe highways as being important either. Surely, some people must have lost their lives in unnecessary accidents due to poor roads. If so, criminal investigations should have been started against those who made
the decision to downgrade the importance of safe highways.

Most of the highway building contractors left the province for an entire decade. Shoulders weren't kept up on the highways and there were long stretches that did not even have proper lines painted on them.
Hard to drive on during the night and in the rain!

Prince George Highways Minister Lois Boone: " If you think that I will place potholes and cracks in the roads ahead of healthcare and education (both in ruins at the time!!!) you must be dreaming. An NDP government has its priorities, and highways and paving aren't even near the top, by a long shot."

(On TV, Channel 10).

That is why Gordon and the Liberals are busy doing catch-up work building bridges and passing lanes.

Posted by: Gofaster on December 19 2005 6:48 PM

wrong diplomat...proven fact...Campell is a criminal!

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on December 19 2005 8:21 PM

Diplomat, these guys all know what the NDP were. Posts like the last one fron Gofaster are just being big teasers, just to make sure we are all OK good people. Gofaster doesn't really wish the NDP were in power so the bank would come get his house. Although, misery does like company.

Posted by: diplomat on December 19 2005 8:21 PM

Hey Gof! Who is this guy "campell"? I never heard of him! Gordon Campbell is our premier, elected successfully to a second term in office!

Different person, obviously.