Notice to media

MINISTER MITCHELL TO MEET WITH U.S. SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE JOHANNS

Ottawa, June 16, 2005 - Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Andy Mitchell will travel to Washington, D.C, on Friday June 17, 2005, where he will meet with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns.

This visit is an opportunity to discuss the stringent safeguards in place in both countries to protect human and animal health, and the need to move forward with trading partners to apply science-based standards in decisions related to occurrences of BSE. The Minister will also be encouraging his U.S. counterpart to work towards resolution of the legal impediments to re-opening the border as quickly as possible.

Also while in Washington, the Minister will be meeting with U.S. industry representatives to discuss agriculture and trade issues.

This trip was scheduled in advance of the suspect case of BSE in the U.S.

For more information, contact:

Elizabeth Whiting
Minister's Office
Ottawa
(613) 759-1059

Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa
(613) 759-7972
(866) 345-7972