The deal is underway. The federal government announced that Canada has been accepted into the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Prime Minister Stephen Harper has failed to divulge if this means that the supply management system of the dairy and poultry industry is on the chopping block. Meanwhile farmers and farm organizations across the country, including the National Farmers Union in New Brunswick (NFU in NB), are speaking out.
“Supply management is the system we use here in Canada to make sure that there is always enough for Canadian consumers, and so we don’t end up dumping excess production down the drain,” said Randall Affleck, NFU Regional Coordinator and Maritime dairy farmer. “It is set up to make sure that we farmers are paid a price that covers our cost of production. By controlling imports through tariffs, supply management keeps foreign companies from dumping their surplus in our market. It’s a win, win, win situation. The government is right to keep it off the table at trade negotiations. I hope they stick to their guns,” he added.
To read the article in its entirety, visit Atlantic Farm Focus.
