Ottawa should 'get rid of silly BS' and be more active in resolving potato ban issue, King says

P.E.I. Premier Dennis King says Ottawa should cut the "silly BS" and do more to end the ban on Island potato exports to the U.S.

A delegation of Island officials, including the premier met with U.S. government representatives in Washington, D.C., Thursday in an effort to reverse the suspension.

The premier said the delegation effectively conveyed their position to American lawmakers, and how the ban could eventually become a food security issue for the U.S.

"They're also shocked and surprised when they hear that CFIA has so much confidence in their product that they're allowing us to ship our product across the country of Canada, and to be consumed in cities and towns all across Canada," King said.

"So they don't understand why there's a disconnect between Canada and the U.S., and as I say that's part of the reason why we're here."

The ban was imposed almost a month ago by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency following the discovery of potato wart on two of the Island's fields. 

The federal government said it made the decision to prevent the U.S. from imposing its own suspension. But the province argues that it was already managing potato wart successfully, as it has been following a plan that's been in place since the fungus was first discovered on P.E.I. over 20 years ago.

The management plan was developed by the CFIA in co-operation with American officials.

Recently, Canadian representatives have been in negotiations with their American counterparts to determine what needs to be done to get the border open. 

Earlier this month, the CFIA met with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to discuss the suspension.

King said he has "no doubt" Ottawa believes issuing its own suspension was the best option it had, but that he's frustrated the federal government isn't more involved in solving the dispute.

"We certainly feel as a province that, and the farmers in our province, and those who make a living in the potato industry that our country should be standing up for the science," he said. 

"Because we found the most recent incidents in Prince Edward Island, that is an illustration that our plan is working. And we want our federal government, our federal agency to respect that, and to come down here like we are, and talk about it, explain it, and defend it, because it is a good solid policy that has been developed by both countries."

King said Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau would've shown the issue was important to Ottawa if she'd offered to join the delegation.