Ottawa has announced its intention to compensate dairy farmers for concessions granted under recent trade agreements, namely the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the Accord. Canada - United States - Mexico (ACEUM).
Dairy farmers have always been deeply invested in the sustainability of their farms, their animals, and their land – indeed, farmers aim not just to sustain but to improve their land over time. In Canada, dairy farms are typically passed down from generation to generation. And farmers are always motivated to run their farms in the most efficient and sustainable way possible – to succeed as a business, and because it's the right thing to do. Protecting our environmental legacy is important to Canadian dairy farmers. Doing more with less means improving productivity, reducing waste, and managing resources responsibly.
"The Speech from the Throne sent a message to dairy farmers that the government's commitment to compensate them for the losses they incurred from Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and more recently the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) is still part of its deliverables," said Pierre Lampron, President, Dairy Farmers of Canada.
"Words are not enough when you lose $ 450 million of your domestic production each year and it is handed over to overseas producers - only when we see the details will we know if this promise is kept." said Pierre Lampron, President of Dairy Farmers of Canada.
He also states that that within four years, “18% of our national milk production will be sold to foreign producers. These producers from other countries will supply the milk contained in imported dairy products that will end up on the shelves of Canadian supermarkets. He also said that the federal government would send a clear signal that it has heard Canadians when it comes to food security and sovereignty, "When every year, you lose $450 million in domestic production being transferred to foreign dairy farmers, words aren't enough – only when we see details will we know if a promise made is a promise kept."
By 2024, 18% of our domestic dairy production will be outsourced to foreign dairy farmers, who will supply the milk for imported dairy products that will find their way onto Canadian supermarket shelves. Dairy farmers support 221,000 jobs.
"By supporting its dairy farming families, the federal government would send a clear signal that they have heard Canadians when it comes to the issue of food security and sovereignty," added Mr. Lampron.
The dairy sector is one of the largest agricultural sectors in Canada and is a key driver of economic activity in rural communities where it's needed most. It supports more than 221,000 full time equivalent jobs, contributes $19.9 billion per year to Canada's GDP and generates $3.8 billion per year in tax revenues. It is also an important source of employment for a whole array of professions, including veterinarians, machine dealers, truck drivers, mechanics, animal nutritionists, feed producers, and more.
ABOUT DAIRY FARMERS OF CANADA
Dairy Farmers of Canada is the national policy, lobbying and promotional organization representing Canadian dairy producers. DFC strives to create stable conditions for the dairy sector in our country. It also seeks to maintain policies that promote the sustainability of Canadian dairy production and promote dairy products and their health benefits.
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