G20 ignores looming energy and African trade crises
Kingston Whig / Geoffrey Johnston / 02 July 2010
[...] Ontario's foreign food imports rose from 25% in 1988 to 40% in 2009. But this trend will not be sustainable when the global energy crisis hits.
Rising energy and transportation costs will eventually drive up the cost of agricultural imports, forcing Canadian consumers to turn to local farmers to supply most of their food.
The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development estimates that in 2007 developed nations allocated $223.5 billion US to farm subsidies, accounting for nearly a quarter of that year's total farm income in the developed world.
Harper should do what he can to facilitate Africa's development. But he must not do so at the expense of Canadian farmers, who will be vital to Canada's survival in the coming crisis. This means that the prime minister must resist One's recommendation to end federal subsidies for Canadian farmers.
Instead of attempting to integrate Africa into a global trading system that isn't sustainable in the long run, the G20 should help Africa develop viable continental and regional trading patterns. Even One acknowledges that "increasing trade and investment among sub-Saharan African countries through economic integration could bring real benefits in employment and incomes."
Yet Africa's poor roads, bridges and electrical grids are major barriers to intra-regional trade. When the G20 meets again in South Korea later this year, Prime Minister Harper should propose an initiative to address the continent's infrastructure deficit.
Canada could also boost sustainable trade patterns by providing fledgling African trading blocs with Canadian expertise in forging bilateral and multilateral trade agreements.
Meanwhile, Kingstonians can begin to make the transition to the post-oil economy this summer by heading down to Market Square to buy fresh produce at the farmers' market.
