Going Ahead as Planned

It seems after the European Union's own legal court put a hault on the ban of seal products, the EU will disregard the ruling and go ahead with the ban as of today. Prime Minister Harper is quite upset with the fact that the EU would not respect their own court system. His message however remains consistant, "They [Canadian sealers] should not be targetted like this, and the government of Canada will continue to speak out in their defence."

There are however a few exemptions from the EU's ban, which include groups who have already filed with the court on the issue. The ban also originally called for an exemption on seal products sold by aboriginal groups. However, the ban itself kills the maketability of the product and will ultimeatley hurt sales, as it has the potential to become a cultural taboo over time.

Signed, Sealed, Delivered

In Miramichi, New Brunswick where the Prime Minster was announcing a new payroll centre which would create about 550 new jobs for the town, it seems another problem lured its head. In a move that would supply much needed jobs to a town who lost so many due to the loss of the gun registry. It seems now, Harper could have more unemployed Canadians on his hands if the European Union's (EU) ban on seal products goes ahead as they have signed the motion.

The European Union delivered the ban on all seal products which has many Canadian politicians fuming at the notion. Notably, Prime Minister Stephen Harper was quite dissatisfied with the decision as it threatens many Canadian jobs. Harper believes this travesty is a harsh critique of the sealers in Canada, "This is flagrant discrimination against the Canadian seal industry, against Canadian sealers ... people who are doing animal husbandry, no differently than many other industries." He went on to say, "It is a disgrace that they're treated this way in some countries based on no rational facts or information whatsoever. We strongly object to the decision. We will continue to defend our sealers."


However, Canada has seemed to bought itself a little bit of time. The ban on the seal products that was scheduled to go into effect on Friday has been halted for the time being. The European General Court, based out of Luxembourg, was forced to delay the ban because an Inuit group filed an application to delay the motion. Now government lawyers from Canada now have time to review the decision by the court in an attempt to launch an appeal. 


With this ban looming, it really hurts an industry that is already been hurting since the recession. This ban is really the equivalent to kicking an industry while it is down. Who knows how long the sealers can muster to stay in this fight? If the EU ban passes, it just might be the knockout blow which will leave the Canadian sealers down for the count. 

Is that Harper I see in the distance?

Our elusive Prime Minister will finally be showing his face next week, as he meets with Conservative MPs and Senators at the Conservative Summer National Caucus meeting. As stated previously, we have barely heard from the Prime Minister, who is said to be spending time with his family at his official summer retreat, despite all the hype about the G20, the F-35s, and the long form census.

Perhaps we will learn next week just why the PM has made the decision to scrap the long form census, however it is more likely that we will just hear more about "the threat of jail time" being inappropriate. We might even hear a response to NDP Leader Jack Layton's request for a meeting. Or a response to MP Helena Guergis request for a meeting!? Doubtful, to say the least.

Meanwhile, the Liberal Leader, Michael Ignatieff continues to tour Ontario on the Liberal Express.

Other than that, a brief programming note: I am off to the cottage this weekend in beautiful (but insanely busy) Turkey Point, Ontario, on the shores of Lake Erie. I most likely won't be posting, but I will likely still be tweeting. In the event that something major comes up over the weekend and I do hear about it, I will try to post, though don't count on it because we only have dial up at the cottage, and that is a scary thought.