CONSERVATIVE AGRICULTURE CRITIC WELCOMES SEATTLE COURT RULING

OTTAWA - Diane Finley, Member of Parliament for Haldimand-Norfolk and Official Opposition Critic for Agriculture and Agri-Food, was heartened by the news Thursday that three judges of the U.S. Appellate Court in Seattle, in a unanimous decision, overturned Montana Judge Richard Cebull's decision to keep the U.S. border closed to Canadian cattle.

"This ruling is exactly what Canadian farmers needed to hear at this time. After what has become a long and trying struggle, our farming industry can finally see a light at the end of the tunnel," said Finley. "This decision confirms what Conservative Members of Parliament have been saying all along - Canada's livestock and food safety system is undeniably safe.

"This, however, is just one battle that we've won. We still need to wait for the July 27th Montana Court hearing to see if Judge Cebull decides to close the border permanently to our beef and livestock. Whatever his decision, I'm sure that it will be appealed by the losing party, but Thursday's ruling gives us hope for the long run," she added.

Finley will be present at the Montana Court hearing, as will more than twenty of her Conservative colleagues, when they will defend the interest of Canadian livestock producers through their amicus status. The Liberal government will have no voice at that hearing, just as they had no elected members of their caucus in the Seattle courtroom where two Conservative Parliamentarians were present.

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