EDMONTON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today presented Premier Klein with the results of supporter surveys regarding the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) crisis. In a letter to Premier Klein, the CTF states:

"Based on survey results received to date, three proposals in particular stand out:

1. Aggressive and continuous diplomatic efforts by the Prime Minister, Premiers, and Agriculture Ministers directed at the U.S. President, Senators, Congressmen, Agriculture Secretary and Governors (favoured by 93% of CTF supporters).

2. Initiate a national cattle/livestock testing program for pre-1997 stock (favoured by 66% of CTF supporters).

3. Reduce or eliminate those taxes which especially affect farms and farming (favoured by 65% of CTF supporters)."

The CTF's letter to Premier Klein also contains other proposals that were mentioned by many CTF supporters:

• Ensure cattle feed ingredients do not contain any meat or other livestock by-products, nor should animal products be fed to chickens or pigs. Do not use animals to feed animals, period.
  
• Create incentives to develop cost-effective BSE tests, especially an accurate test that can be done on live cattle, prior to slaughter. Explore the feasibility of using blood tests to detect BSE. More effort should be made to develop simpler and quicker tests. Focus resources on eradicating BSE itself, rather than trying to manage economic problems resulting from BSE; eliminate the root cause(s).
  
• Let cattle producers choose to test, or not to test, every animal, and label the meat accordingly. Consumers (whether Canadian, American or Japanese) can decide themselves whether to pay extra for "certified BSE free" meat or "regular" meat (which is safe in any case). The quality of beef and the price of beef should be worked out between consumers and producers.
  
• The USA should also initiate a national cattle-testing program, as this is a North American market. Negotiate standard rules and practices to govern our single, integrated continental beef market. Formalize an agreement with the U.S. so both countries recognize what is already a reality: there is one North American market.
  A copy of this letter is available from www.taxpayer.com and from the CTF's Edmonton office.
  

These results of CTF supporter surveys have also been presented to the Premiers of Saskatchewan and Manitoba and the federal Minister of Agriculture.