Canada fights Euro ban

[saskganesh]

fashion fur is a fickle business. currently, it's only a heavily subsidized, $6 million export industry in decline, so Canada should not waste any political capital on this and concentrate on other fishery/ocean issues, such as Arctic sovereignity and heavy trawler bans.

I basically agree - there is no reason to subsidize the hunt, but the ban is pure bullshit.

its symbolic and cheap. the euros are banning it because the market has shifted. their constituents largely don't care for the hunt, so its easy political points for them.

I mean, we could fight it at WTO, but it won't change anything even if we won.  heck we could even ban imports of foie gras as a tit for tat move, but that'll never happen. are we gonna raise the same stink if the USA finally bans polar bear pelts?

let the euros have their ban, and let's spend time on more substantive issues.

[HisMajestyBOB]

The Governor General should rip the heart out of any Euroweenie that opposes her and eat it raw. It's about time for Canada to become a country of action, and what better than to practice on Europeans? It's not like they'll fight back.

Maybe club a few foreign ministers, too.

[saskganesh]

May you guys never say that infront of Newfies.

if they can't market their product so that people actually want it, that's their problem.

edit: it would help if Newfies learned to speak english.

[saskganesh]

The Governor General should rip the heart out of any Euroweenie that opposes her and eat it raw. It's about time for Canada to become a country of action, and what better than to practice on Europeans? It's not like they'll fight back.

Maybe club a few foreign ministers, too.

here's an idea. why not sell seal stuff domestically? we are a rich country.

oh that's right. seal meat tastes bad and Canadians don't want the fur either.

[Valmy]

I mean, we could fight it at WTO, but it won't change anything even if we won.  heck we could even ban imports of foie gras as a tit for tat move, but that'll never happen. are we gonna raise the same stink if the USA finally bans polar bear pelts?

See this sort of limited thinking will not win anything for Canada.  You need to respond disproportionally.  I say ban ALL European products and forcibly expel all European expats from Canada.

[saskganesh]

I mean, we could fight it at WTO, but it won't change anything even if we won.  heck we could even ban imports of foie gras as a tit for tat move, but that'll never happen. are we gonna raise the same stink if the USA finally bans polar bear pelts?

See this sort of limited thinking will not win anything for Canada.  You need to respond disproportionally.  I say ban ALL European products and forcibly expel all European expats from Canada.

hmm.... 

[Malthus]

They're cute. 

Well I guess if you are into that sort of thing.

Hunting them down, clubbing them to death and making coats of their pelts would make an excellent spectator sport. 

[Neil]

May you guys never say that infront of Newfies.

Newfs didn't vote Conservative, so fuck 'em.

[crazy canuck]

Sask, I think the Euroweenies may have miscalculated.  The next G8 meeting is going to be in the North for the very reason that the conservatives are making the North one of their major policy platforms in the next election.

If the Euros thought they could score easy points with their electorate with little blowback they are likely in for a shock.

[viper37]

fashion fur is a fickle business. currently, it's only a heavily subsidized, $6 million export industry in decline, so Canada should not waste any political capital on this and concentrate on other fishery/ocean issues, such as Arctic sovereignity and heavy trawler bans.

it is not subsidized, so far as I know.
And it's not in "decline".  Business is slow at the moment, that's all.  Like oil prices are down at the moment, yet it doesn't mean the oil industry is in decline (and this one is subsidized, btw).

Besides, seals are not marketted only for their fur, even though it's the main product.  Seal food is sold in a few restaurants, and it's also part of other animal food.  And with their oil, we can make omega 3 caps.

And if we don't kill the seals to maintain their population, there'll be no more fish in our part of the atlantic pretty soon.

[viper37]

I say let this start a protectionist war!  Everybody benefits!

So...what do the Euros export alot to Canada that you guys can ban?

Their awful wines, or what passes for it.
I'm already boycotting this.
I also boycott their movies and their music.
If I see anything marked "Made in France", I refuse to buy it.

I'm doing my part.

[Grey Fox]

Sask, I think the Euroweenies may have miscalculated.  The next G8 meeting is going to be in the North for the very reason that the conservatives are making the North one of their major policy platforms in the next election.

If the Euros thought they could score easy points with their electorate with little blowback they are likely in for a shock.

Hear this BB, kick the reform guys + Harper out & do this & I'll vote Conservative.

[saskganesh]

fashion fur is a fickle business. currently, it's only a heavily subsidized, $6 million export industry in decline, so Canada should not waste any political capital on this and concentrate on other fishery/ocean issues, such as Arctic sovereignity and heavy trawler bans.

it is not subsidized, so far as I know.
And it's not in "decline".  Business is slow at the moment, that's all.  Like oil prices are down at the moment, yet it doesn't mean the oil industry is in decline (and this one is subsidized, btw).

Besides, seals are not marketted only for their fur, even though it's the main product.  Seal food is sold in a few restaurants, and it's also part of other animal food.  And with their oil, we can make omega 3 caps.

And if we don't kill the seals to maintain their population, there'll be no more fish in our part of the atlantic pretty soon.

your tax dollars, not mine. go at 'er. they have ceased direct subsidies, but maintain other ways of keeping the industry viable.

there's other sources of omega 3. eat some flax.

your last point is a deliberate industry lie. according to DFO, the cod collapsed because of humans overfishing and its impacts. culling seals won't make a difference.

despite the euros thing, nothing stopping you from buying seal products is there? largely, Canadians are just *not* interested.

[Barrister]

fashion fur is a fickle business. currently, it's only a heavily subsidized, $6 million export industry in decline, so Canada should not waste any political capital on this and concentrate on other fishery/ocean issues, such as Arctic sovereignity and heavy trawler bans.

I basically agree - there is no reason to subsidize the hunt, but the ban is pure bullshit.

its symbolic and cheap. the euros are banning it because the market has shifted. their constituents largely don't care for the hunt, so its easy political points for them.

I mean, we could fight it at WTO, but it won't change anything even if we won.  heck we could even ban imports of foie gras as a tit for tat move, but that'll never happen. are we gonna raise the same stink if the USA finally bans polar bear pelts?

let the euros have their ban, and let's spend time on more substantive issues.

I'm okay with throwing the Newfie seal hunters under the bus, but the seal ban also affects traditional Inuit hunters.  So fuck the euros.

[Barrister]

Sask, I think the Euroweenies may have miscalculated.  The next G8 meeting is going to be in the North for the very reason that the conservatives are making the North one of their major policy platforms in the next election.

If the Euros thought they could score easy points with their electorate with little blowback they are likely in for a shock.

Hear this BB, kick the reform guys + Harper out & do this & I'll vote Conservative.

No dice.