MANITOBA PORK COUNCIL
AGM
9TH APRIL 2014
GENERAL MANAGER REPORT
ANDREW DICKSON
Manitoba Pork Credit Corporation
APP provides producers with a critical source
of working capital at low rate of interest,
with interest on first $100,000 paid by federal government
2014-2015 APP
Working with AAFC and Royal Bank of Canada to obtain
credit line of $20m for new loans for April start
2013-2014 APP
 88 producers obtain loans
 $16.3 million in total
 $8.4 million interest free loans
 $7.9 million interest bearing loans
 Almost 50% loans are in Manitoba
2008-2009 APP Emergency Loan Program
 124 open files as of April 1, 2013
 By 31st Dec over 54% was paid off
 62% of producers who had loans outstanding
at the beginning of the year have:
 paid off their loans
 rolled over their loan into the 2013-2014 APP
 entered into a 5 year agreement or a 10 year agreement.
Summary of 2008-2009 APP Emergency Loan program:
• 32 Late Repayments totaling $4.8 million
• 15 Rollovers into the 2013-2014 APP
• 20 five year agreements totaling $3.5 million
• 14 ten year agreements (with federal government)
• 43 files sent to federal government for collection
( Received payment + interest for 40 files to date)
• Received $314,394.47 from the federal government
for the interest differential on interest free account
in October, 2013.
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN LABELLING
WTO
 4th Dec 2012 WTO sets 23rd May 2013 for US to come
into compliance with Appeal Panel Ruling
 23rd May 2013 USDA amends COOL regulations:
detailed labels still require segregation
 24th May Canada objects to WTO ….. changes
do not bring US into compliance
 10th June Canada/US agree on how to proceed on
non-compliance WTO procedures
 15th June Canada publishes list of potential products
subject to retaliatory duties
 19th August Canada requests WTO for Compliance Panel
 27th September WTO appoints Compliance Panel
-members are same as first Panel
 31st Oct First Written Submissions to Compliance Panel
 19th Dec. Second Written Submissions to Panel
2014
 18th-19th Feb Panel Hearing in Geneva- oral presentations
 23rd March Written Comments on Q&As from Panel
June-July…Panel Report
Summer …..appeals
Fall….Application for retaliatory measures to WTO
2015 approval for retaliatory measures
Meanwhile back at the farm……..
 Spring 2013 Canada launches major effort to advocate for changes
to the US FARM BILL
 US farm organizations form coalition to advocate repeal of COOL
 Numerous meetings of Canadian government representatives and
farm organizations with all stakeholders in Farm Bill process
 Marker put in draft Bill to force discussion at Conference stage
 Tentative signals on possible amendments…..evaporated overnight
 Farm Bill with no changes to COOL signed into law 7th Feb. 2014
Meanwhile back at the fort……(2013-2014)
Constitutional Challenge
Coalition of farm organizations lead by American Meat Institute
(+ CPC and CCA) formed to challenge constitutionality of COOL
Argument: COOL is form of compelled speech which is not required
to provide consumer information, and USDA went beyond
its authority in Farm Bill
July: AMI files case in District Court and seeks injunction to stop USDA
September: injunction against USDA was denied but AMI appeals
January: hearing with Appeals Court (3 judges)
March: Appeals Court supports lower court decision
April: Appeals Court decides to re-hear case with full Panel
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