For Immediate Release:

March 4, 2004

Barrett meets with U-S Consulate General today

Toronto – Today Haldimand-Norfolk-Brant MPP Toby Barrett met with the United States Consulate General and is optimistic that the United States is ready to take the initial steps toward opening the American border

Barrett joined MPP’s Ernie Hardeman, and Ted Arnott, as well as Ontario Cattlemen Executive Director, Mike McMorris, to meet with US Consul General Antoinette Marwitz and Deputy Consul Phillip Hoffman at the US Consulate on University Avenue in Toronto today.

As it happened, within hours of the meeting the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it was re-opening its federal registry 30-day comment period regarding the possibility of opening the border to Canadian beef of all ages.

“During the meeting, we were assured by the Consul that the federal registry comment period would be re-opened, we just didn’t know it would be this fast,” said Barrett. “Opening of the border has been the key to revitalizing our hard-hit beef industry since the first BSE discovery."

“Our meeting also focused on the importance of communicating Ontario’s position, including the need to permit Ontario replacement cattle to access the U.S market.”