[Marcarc]

It's perfectly logical-protectionism makes perfect economic and political sense,especially if you live next door to a country with tons of resources and no political mechanisms for the population to have any say.

[Dr Caleb]

It's no biggie now. If the governmnet can keep the producers afloat for a year or so longer, then slaughter capacity will return to pre-NAFTA levels north of the border, and many jobs will be lost south of it.<br /> <br /> Then Canada will change to a supplier of finished meat products, rather than an exporter of live cattle.<br /> <br /> Something we should do with softwood lumber and hydrocarbons (plastics, petrochemicals).

[sthompson]

Only problem with that is so many producers aren't staying afloat (a lot of that government aid has amounted to a cheque for $50, aid to the big boys, and that kind of deal). In my area, ground zero for BSE, suicides and bankruptcies are up like crazy (I believe we are now the suicide capital of Alberta). It's been sad to see the extent of rural depopulation already, and this crisis could help the big boys once again by clearing out the country even more, leaving more opportunities to buy up land and leaving even less economic and political power for the few farmers who are left. So although I see the positive possibilities (less dependence on the US market, more value-added industry in Canada) I still worry a lot about the negative possibilities too. The big guys know how to make a buck in any situation.

[Milton]

You got that right!