| | Purpose of travel:
To attend the 2018 Legislative Agriculture Chairs (LAC) Summit.
Overview:
Honourable Oneil Carlier, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry (AF) led a mission to Kansas City, Missouri to attend the 2018 LAC Summit, January 5-7, 2018. The mission was designed to support Alberta’s international trade and intergovernmental relations priorities with Alberta’s most important trading partner during a pivotal time in United States (US)-Canada relations, as negotiations to modernize the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) continue.
Minister Carlier was afforded the opportunity to address the full US-Canada Delegation, where he reiterated strong messaging on NAFTA’s role in the integration of our markets and economies, and the agreement’s facilitation of a robust bilateral trade relationship between US states and Alberta. The Minister undertook side engagements with state legislators over the duration of the Summit, and had the opportunity to meet with the Deputy Secretary of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) where discussions focused on the potential outcome of the NAFTA talks and other areas of mutual interest within the agriculture and forestry sectors. Additionally, Minister Carlier met with Cargill Incorporated where the company’s Alberta operations were profiled and further perspective was provided on NAFTA.
The LAC Summit is organized by the State Agriculture and Rural Leaders Board (SARL) and brings together US state and Canadian provincial legislators, federally appointed officials and industry representatives, to focus on agricultural issues and challenges, policies and legislation, bilateral trade and other areas of mutual importance. The SARL Board executes the LAC Summit, in partnership with the Provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), Canada’s Consulate network, and the national livestock associations of Canada. The Summit offers vast advocacy opportunities for Alberta/Canada that are critical to supporting the Government of Alberta’s NAFTA and US relations strategy moving forward.
The 2018 Summit drew more than 200 legislators from 46 US states and six Canadian provinces and provided invaluable opportunities to convey Alberta’s position on free trade, and to profile the province’s agriculture, forestry and tourism sectors. In attendance were Provincial Ministers of Agriculture from Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan: Deputy Ministers from Alberta, Manitoba and Nova Scotia: and Members of the Legislative Assemblies of Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan. The remainder of the Canada Delegation was comprised of the Deputy Director of AAFC’s Market Access Secretariat: the Canadian Consulates of Chicago and Minneapolis, the Alberta Washington Office, and industry representation from the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA), the Canadian Pork Council (CPC), Manitoba Pork, the Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance, the Canadian Canola Council, the Western Equipment Dealers Association and Export Development Canada.
Mission Objectives:
- Amplify the benefits of NAFTA, convey Alberta's/Canada's “do no harm” approach to the agreement’s renegotiation and reaffirm Alberta’s/Canada’s commitment to open markets.
- Advance the Government of Alberta's international trade and investment agenda with the US, Canada's largest export market.
- Expand and strengthen US-Canada relations and understanding on trade, free trade agreements and remaining competitive in world markets.
- Advocate for strong attendance from US state legislators at the July 13-15, 2019 LAC Summit in Calgary, Alberta, profile Alberta’s agriculture, food and forestry sectors, and promote Alberta as a premier tourism destination for international visitors.
Results:
- January 5
- Minister Carlier met with the Deputy Secretary of the USDA where he sought clarity on the potential of the US to withdraw from NAFTA and reassurance that the three parties would ultimately come to a consensus on the agreement. Additionally, the Minister conveyed Alberta’s/Canada’s support of and position on a trade agreement that has been a cornerstone of agriculture trade with the US and Mexico for decades. As well, perspectives were exchanged on mutual issues and challenges within the agriculture and forestry sectors. This was the Minister’s first meeting with the Deputy Secretary who was appointed by President Trump and confirmed by the US Senate in October 2017.
- Minister Carlier participated in the annual Canada Delegation Briefing jointly planned and executed by Alberta, Manitoba, AAFC, the Consulate network, CCA and CPC respectively. Discussions were undertaken on strategic alignment on NAFTA, targeted engagement with major US states for Alberta’s/Canada’s agriculture products and issues, and challenges or opportunities with other free trade agreements moving forward.
- January 6
- Minister Carlier met with Cargill, Incorporated. (Cargill) to emphasize the global agriculture corporation’s significant business operations in Alberta including beef processing and canola crushing that support investment, trade and labour. Cargill has been active in advocating for an improved NAFTA at the state level and remains an invaluable ally in the successful completion of the negotiations.
- Minister Carlier addressed the entire LAC Summit Delegation and delivered messaging on the importance of NAFTA in facilitating a strong trading relationship between US states and Alberta/Canada. The primary focus remained that Canada and the US must work together to ensure that decision makers understand the need to maintain and modernize NAFTA. Minister Carlier reinforced how the integration of the North American agriculture sector through NAFTA builds stronger countries and enhances competitiveness. As Calgary will serve as the location for the July 2019 LAC Summit, the Minister took the opportunity to profile Alberta’s rich agricultural background and the province as a premier tourism destination, and to promote the City of Calgary and the Calgary Stampede to over 200 US State Agriculture legislators, appointed officials and industry representatives.
- January 7
- The Minister assisted in the passing of a North America Trade Resolution designed to support making targeted improvements to NAFTA during the ongoing talks to modernize the agreement. Alberta initially proposed to the SARL Board that such a resolution should be brought forward. The resolution was overwhelmingly supported by SARL, AAFC, the attending provinces and states, and the national agriculture associations or alliances. As the resolution was bilateral in nature, it moved to strengthen trade and relations between the US-Canada and to encourage jurisdictions to promote policies that support and enhance our integrated supply chains that allow for the global competitiveness of North American agriculture. The resolution was provided to the Secretary of the USDA and other state, provincial and federal officials as was deemed necessary.
Delegation:
Honourable Oneil Carlier, Minister of AF
Anthony Clark, Chief of Staff, Office of the Minister of AF
Bev Yee, Deputy Minister, AF
Final Itinerary:
Itinerary for Minister Carlier
| Date | Event |
| Friday, January 5 | Traveled to Kansas City, Missouri |
| Friday, January 5 | Met with Deputy Secretary of the US Department of Agriculture |
 | Attended 2018 US-Canada LAC Reception |
| Attended Canada Delegation Meeting |
| Saturday, January 6 | Met with Cargill’s Director of Government Affairs |
| Attended LAC Sessions and Plenaries |
| Addressed US-Canada Delegation |
| Sunday, January 7 | Supported passage of a NAFTA Modernization Resolution |
| Attended US federal issues plenary |
| Traveled to Edmonton, Alberta |
Significant Speeches/Presentations:
January 6, 2018
- Minister Carlier addressed the full LAC Summit Delegation to reinforce the significance of the US-Canada trade relationship, how the North American agriculture sectors have benefited greatly from NAFTA over the decades, and to formally invite the US and Canada delegates to attend the 2019 LAC Summit in Calgary. The Minister’s address was preceded by presentations promoting the Province of Alberta and the Calgary Stampede.
News Releases/Communiques:
- Building trade, growth and market access - Agriculture and Forestry Minister Oneil Carlier will reaffirm Alberta’s commitment to open markets and the modernization of NAFTA when he meets with Canadian and US agricultural leaders in Kansas City January 5-7, 2018.
https://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?xID=5123691B8AF27-BE2A-E34A-46F943357210E80E
- 2018 LAC Summit Resolution #1 on Trade in North America
http://www.agandruralleaders.org/proposed-resolution-2018-1-north-american-trade
International Travel Final Expenses
(Part of the Final International Travel Report and posted as part of this Report as well as posted separately on the same site to ensure expenses are visible on the main page of the link)
*For multi-departmental missions, ensure each department's costs are included and noted separately in their own chart and posted on each department's website (i.e. the same information should be posted on all participating department's websites)
| Expenditures by Participants | Amount |
Travel (includes airfare, airport service fees, ground transportation costs,
including taxis, car rentals, parking, trains, buses as well as mileage to/from airport or taxis to/from airport in Alberta, including any cancellation fees) | $3,565.35 |
| Accommodation (room charges and related taxes, including any cancellation fees) | $642.72 |
| Meals (includes restaurant bills and tips, meals on hotel bills, per diem meal claims, share of group meals or working sessions) | $187.55 |
| Incidental and Miscellaneous (includes cell phone rental charges, incremental costs for all electronic devices such as roaming charges for cell phones, iPads and costs associated with communications such as the costs incurred for media call-backs, conference/registration fees, including cancellation fees, fax and internet charges, passport and visa fees, medical and inoculation fees, laundry and dry cleaning, baggage handling, out-of- country per diems, and other sundry expenditures) | $184.87 |
Sub-Total | $4,580.49 |
| General Mission Expenditures | Amount |
| Receptions and Hosting (receptions, luncheons, dinners, and events that are hosted by the Government of Alberta that are specific to the mission and include meeting related costs for room rental, room rental for hosted events, food, beverages, catering staff, service charges, entertainment, flowers) | $7,000.00 |
| and Miscellaneous (includes translation of documents fees, publications, shipping charges, gifts purchased specifically for mission, Canadian Embassy/High Commission/Consulate charges for services provided to the GOA) | |
Sub-Total | $7,000.00 |
Total Costs | $11,580.49 |
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