The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador very often meets European Union (EU) representatives in Ottawa on the proposed EU ban on Canadian seal products. The Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, and the Honourable Dave Denine, Minister for Intergovernmental Affairs, have met with representatives of Portugal, Latvia, Austria, Ireland, Greece, Netherlands, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, United Kingdom, France, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Romania, Germany, Poland and the European Union delegation to Ottawa.
Minister Hedderson informed that the European ambassadors and representatives that we met with were very receptive to the information that we shared with them. He also add that the debates were open and candid and the EU representatives now have a better understanding that Canadian seal harvest is very well-regulated and plays an important role in the Canadian marine ecosystem.
The European Parliament is expected to vote on the amended seal ban legislation in early May 2009. The Council of Ministers, comprised of a representative from each of the 27 member states, is currently reviewing the legislation. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is taking all the precautions and asking that this vote be delayed on the basis that the proposed legislation is inconsistent with agreements negotiated by Canada and the EU through the World Trade Organization (WTO).
At the G-20 summit, global leaders agreed that now is not the time for protectionism in light of the global economic crisis. Canada’s own Prime Minister and EU representatives have all supported this view. Minister Denine told that the meetings with the ambassadors and representatives of the various embassies were productive and provided us the opportunity to deliver important, factual information, regarding the seal hunt.
He opined that Newfoundland and Labrador has long enjoyed very productive trading relationships with many EU member states and we hope to see this continue into the future. He added that the Canadian Government should work with the EU to implement a regulatory regime for the Canadian sealing industry that is agreeable to all parties.
