Agriculture, Fisheries and AquacultureStanding Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Environment First Report of the First Session Sixty-second General Assembly The discovery of a single case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in Alberta on May 20 of 2003 caused havoc in the Canadian livestock industry. The ban on exports to many countries led to a surplus of cattle in Canada, which resulted in a major loss of markets and a severe drop in prices. Although the ban on exports has been lifted partially, the impacts of the crisis persist throughout the country. The impacts have also had disastrous consequences for Prince Edward Island’s livestock industry. The collapse in beef prices and the restricted access to markets has resulted in serious financial losses for producers. A motion was passed during the fall 2003 session of the Legislative Assembly which directed the Standing Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and the Environment to discuss the BSE crisis and its impact on Prince Edward Island in general and on cow-calf operators in particular. (See Appendix A.) The motion also directed the Standing Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Environment to invite input from interested stakeholders and others impacted by the BSE crisis so that the implications of this situation can be fully understood and potential remedies identified. In presenting this report, the Standing Committee wishes to emphasize that agriculture is the leading contributor to the Prince Edward Island economy and the foundation for the well-being of its rural communities. As such, all Islanders have a stake in its short and long-term prospects.
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