Saskatchewan Liberal MP Ralph Goodale says the federal government shares the industry's concerns over China's cancellation of Richardson International's and Viterra's canola export permits.
He agrees this is a serious situation at the top of government's priority list.
"The Prime Minister is fully engaged on this as is the Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland, the Trade Minister Jim Carr (and) the Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau," said Goodale. "Indeed I expect Minister Carr and Minister Bibeau will be in Saskatchewan this week."
In addition, he says the Prime Minister met with the canola industry in Winnipeg and has had telephone conversations with provincial premiers.
"This is a full-court press from the point of view of the Government of Canada."
Goodale adds government is anxious to bring this dispute to an end and believes it has the full support of the provinces and the industry to do so.
There are calls for the federal government to send a delegation to China in order to resolve the impasse. Government has said it may take this approach, however hasn't committed to it and this has industry and producer groups concerned.
Goodale explained the issue is when and how to intervene in the most strategic way that will get the best result.
"There has been a scientific dialogue going on between Canada and China for a very long time now and it appeared to be headed very much in the right direction toward the correct scientific conclusions that would maintain market access and so forth, until these most recent moves by China aimed directly at Richardson and Viterra," he said. "So with that previous scientific communication already going on, we will continue that dialogue and intensify it."
He added it is important for Canada to keep these conversations on a scientific foundation.
"If the allegation is coming from China, which it is, that there some contamination here, there is some scientific or technical problem, well we know that the science is very much in our favour. If this is a scientific argument, we will win that argument."
Goodale points to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency working on behalf of the Canadian government and the science happening within universities and the private sector.
"We know our product is the best in the world, the cleanest in the world and up to the highest standards in the world."
Source : Discoverairdrie