Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound Conservative MP Alex Ruff is holding an information session and press conference with local beef producers on concerns with the Mercosur Trade Agreement.
The South American Common Market (Mercosur) is a trading bloc and customs union made up of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. Canada has been working on trade negotiations with Mercosur since 2018, and aims to sign a deal this year.
Grey County Beef Farmers and Bruce County Beef Farmers will discuss the potential impact the agreement could have on Canada’s beef sector, food security, animal health standards, and rural communities. The event will also provide an opportunity for farmers to share their perspectives and concerns directly to the public.
The Beef Farmers of Ontario say in a statement on their website, “Expanding market access for imported beef into Canada would only serve to undercut domestic production and displace Canadian product – particularly in Ontario, where the vast majority of all imported beef is sold.”
They say now should be the time for government policy to reinforce Canadian-raised, sustainably produced beef, not the time to increase reliance on imports through the Mercosur agreement.
The local event will take place on:
Saturday, 16 May 2026 at 11:00am
Pallister Farm
225885 Southgate Road 22
Dundalk, ON N0C 1B0