Dr. Sylvain Charlebois writes, "For decades, Canada’s supply management system has acted as both shield and stabilizer for the country’s dairy sector."
Everyone always talks about "the farmers" and how they benefit from Supply Management. This brings to mind Farmer Clarence and his wife and kids running an idyllic little red barn operation in the Laurentians. In reality SM benefits a few hundred wealthy multimillion dollar corporations who, no doubt, contribute generously to political campaigns. They are about as "Mom and Pop" and Carnochio's Blind Trust Manager.
Too many Canadian politicians, Liberals and Conservative both, have sacrificed Canada’s economy to subsidize corporate farms both through higher prices and missed trade opportunities. To them, dairy farms are more important than the auto and steel industries. It’s time to put an end to the national self harm of supply management.
Yes… but more favourably for Quebec by far than Ontario, and definitely much more exponentially than Atlantic or Western Provinces. Scrap it like the Wheat Board!
Strange how the French lost on the Plains of Abraham in 1759 and yet have somehow become the "language mafia" in the Canadian Confederation as well as recipients of the largest transfer payments in the country.
You think this bad, the USA dumps more milk as they have a huge surplus of milk particularly one full drug etc. That is why they want Board gone so that they can flood the Canadian market.
but they dump milk because they produce more than the market demands. Not because they are only allowed to sell/produce a given volume. That is how every free market works. If they flood the canadian market, it's because canadians want the product.
Most people do not know that the US government under the Federal Milk Marketing Orders sets the minimum prices paid by the producers to farmers. Also there is the Dairy Margin Coverage program that protects milk producers when the difference between the all-milk price and the average feed costs falls below a certain amount. The $ amount is set by the dairy farmer.
President Obama increase the FMMO because dairy farmers had a large surplus of milk , prices dropped and farmers were going out of business.
In passing CDMB could be a red herring because USA has a shortage of milk.
Many policies in our government need an enema! The cartel scheme in Canada needs to be disrupted and overhauled for sure. The CFIA needs to have it's policies and procedures revamped especially in light of the Ostriches in Edgewood, BC. The owner and spokesperson has done a wonderful job of highlighting the problems with CFIA and these policies MUST CHANGE.
FYI, the farm wanted to test their birds. Again, due to poor policy from the CFIA the farmers could be charged $200,000 fine and 6 months in prison for each ostrich tested. They have pleaded to have them tested these last few months but the CFIA will not. I hope you are a little more forgiving with that piece of information. This story is bigger than most people know. There are lots of back stories and yes, the farm maybe did not do everything right. Now, their rights, property, and lively hood are being trampled on by bad government policies. I'm not even blaming the liberals in this. There should be regular updates to all policies and this is coming to a head. This affects all animal farmers and I hope they throw their support behind the UOF.
Why is it the only claim is trade works only in allowing the US producers in? Trade works both ways. If we can't compete with the 70 cent dollar and our excess production there is something wrong with the system.
That's right. In that sense it should be a no brainer to export dairy products to the US. With difference in dollar value should make a good advantage to market the dairy products. No need for subsidizing.
The Dr. doesn't go far enough. The dairy industry is and has been for decades now, heavily subsidized. That in it's self is a big cost to the price on the shelf. Anytime an industry is subsidized you are throwing that industry out of balance. As the industry becomes totally reliant on the subsidy, in effect elevates the cost of the end product. Getting rid of it takes adjusting, but it pays off in the end. Good example is the elimination of the Canadian wheat board. The farmers don't miss it now, as they get paid directly from the buyers. No association dues to pay, or middle man.
I should add that, I believe a lot of the processing plants are owned by a Quebec company called, I think Saputo. They are the ones who are ruling this whole thing, another elite owner operation. All the dairy processing companies that I grew up with are long gone, bought out or how ever. Such as Palm dairies, Lucerne, NADP, Foothills, just to mention a few.
Yes, but that leader was voted in by ignorant and uninformed gullible voters who keep inflicting on themselves governments that have and are continuing to destroy this country. I have no hope left for this country as it is right now.
We don't need federaloversight of dairy or anything else.. we need to allow small farms to prosper ... if anything the government should be encouraging Healthy farm practices, which they are Not
Canada’s supply management system limits domestic production through quotas. It supposedly protects farmers with high import tariffs. Think about exactly who this benefits?? GOVERNMENT AND GOVERNMENT CONTROL!!!! I came from a huge poultry farm in Ontario surrounded by dairy and poultry farmers. I never once heard anyone support this government control…..but I heard many negative and opposing angry conversations! Curious - did Leblanc or Carney or any other Marxist practicing Liberal ever try to run a farm? That no matter how hard you work to expand and increase your production, a bunch of greedy bastards that were elected to “serve” Canadians, instead spend hours deciding how to “control and benefit financially” from your every move!!!!!
The trouble is the Conservatives support supply management too. Nowcand through ten years in power they did nothing to change it. They’re as Marxist as the Liberals. That’s one of the reasons I support the People’s Party.
I subscribed ahead of the federal election and was disappointed to find their non-stop promotion of the left wing conservative Party with its support for supply management and screeching anti-American rhetoric. You can’t support a commander economy and hate Trump’s American and claim to be conservative.
I can see where You come from. But I do not think it is a matter of "picking" sides. One has to report what one sees. Just My opinion as I am not an insider of this news outlet.
Aren't American dairy farmers allowed to use Bovine Growth Hormone to increase milk production from their cattle? Do we want to have their milk and cheese in Canada? This was an issue several years ago.
The only province strongly against change is Quebec . There was an article the other day with the BQ leader threatening that Canada was going to keep dumping milk to protect the dairy farmers. As always Quebec seems to feel that the rest of Canada should knuckle under to their demands while ignoring what is best for the rest of Canada.
"Quebec does rhis" and "Quebec gets that". Everybody dumps on Quebec. I think they are maybe the smartest peas in the pod: they negotiated for everything they got. The fact that they got it meant that others agreed. I think Alberta should start doing the same.
Quebec doesn’t negotiate, they threaten to leave Canada. I think it is time to put that to a vote. The oil provinces pay extortionate amounts in equalization payments to Quebec, the one of richest provinces in Canada. We have made French our second language. If they had their way it would be our first. We have everything sold in stores in French and English no matter where it is made. They don’t negotiate, they bully.
Even with my French surname I do not agree with French being made a close second language. I think Canada should be like the USA: English only.
I'm pretty much on your side here. I just maintain a bit of respect for the people of Quebec who, because of a very strong French heritage (from France) consider themselves a separate nation and want to maintain that. I don't think they want to run Canada their way, they just want to run Quebec.
Every province runs their own province. I have met some very nice people from Quebec who have the live and let live attitude. They are proud to be Canadian, not necessarily Quebecois. They don’t agree with the Bloc’s attitude to the rest of Canada, even Legault had to admit after the last provincial election that he might have to start to listen to what the people of Quebec really want. Pretty pathetic when the only province that has the power to speak for the people of his province in parliament is not in tune with the people of his province.
I essentially agree, Don, but there can be a confusion between the words 'bully' and 'strong negotiation'. Quebec had two referendums to leave Canada and a slight majority said no both times. perhaps there were conditions, but any province can use the same tactic. It's strong bargaining, nothing else. I think perhaps some Canadians are just a bit jealous of how Quebec stands up strongly to Ottawa and gets as much traction as they can to be do independent as they can, but still be within this now-failed union called Confederation.
Now I am not French; my name is Acadian not Quebecois, and I live in Alberta by choice and I sympathize with what the people here mostly want. Have a nice day, man.
Your comment has merit. Quebec knows how to use this "leverage." That is the politicians. We in any Province and Territory could use this same leverage. But then maybe, just maybe We are aware of Our "duties" as Canadians. Not government duties but moral duties!
Very well put. I agree with that. I'm thinking about negotiations between two business partners or an employer and employee. If one side says "I don't like the situation or the conditions, I'll opt out or ask for better conditions "... that might sound like a threat but it's negotiating from strength. I think all the provinced should stand up and do that. I think only Quebec so far has done that, but Alberta (my adopted province) is starting to show that. There is a huge sentiment here for separation from Canada and I'm all for it. I don't think Ottawa will give us anything decent. On that point Smith our premier is wrong. But at least it can never be said that she didn't try unity.
I for one prefer American cheese over Canadian and like the price difference also and how does a small contingency keep a country captive? If you can’t compete your not in business
isn't it possible to open the trade and specify the production? ie growth hormone or antibiotics detected above a certain level and you get it back. Bet they'll stop pretty quick.
Give the people what they want, as the old Kinks song said. So long as there is buyer-beware information on what is in it. Freedom of choice for everyone.
As far as I know there has never been any health issues with growth hormones. Never heard of anyone dying from it either. And don't think that it is used for dairy production.
This is one of the very sad things about what used to be and still is Canada.
The total abomination that is Supply Management, primarily to the benefit of Quebec followed by Ontario is all about votes.
PERIOD... END... FULL STOP...
Even more sadly not a single party of any stripe will go on the record as supporting the one thing the vast majority of regular Canadians seem to support.
That being the complete elimination of this abomination of price fixing and control for solely the benefit of a small handful and all political parties Conservatives included.
The inevitability of human egos runs rampant within the sectors privy to Supply Management and Quota systems. Many of the farmers benefiting from it start to believe it was their own personal genius that led to their healthy personal balance sheets, when all they did was participate in a fascistic governmental control of the industry they work in.
I’ve seen it many times in the Fraser Valley, and I can’t imagine it being any different elsewhere.
Two things will occur; first they will be compensated with more Canadian tax dollars for their “loss,” entirely artificial in the first place. Secondly, their real property values will decrease because they are no longer protected by fascistic governmental interference.
Everyone always talks about "the farmers" and how they benefit from Supply Management. This brings to mind Farmer Clarence and his wife and kids running an idyllic little red barn operation in the Laurentians. In reality SM benefits a few hundred wealthy multimillion dollar corporations who, no doubt, contribute generously to political campaigns. They are about as "Mom and Pop" and Carnochio's Blind Trust Manager.
Absolutely spot on! Mom and Pops began disappearing 50 years ago and are now in danger of vanishing.
Too many Canadian politicians, Liberals and Conservative both, have sacrificed Canada’s economy to subsidize corporate farms both through higher prices and missed trade opportunities. To them, dairy farms are more important than the auto and steel industries. It’s time to put an end to the national self harm of supply management.
And which province benefits the most from this you have to ask, begins with a q and ends with a c
Actually both Quebec and Ontario $Billionaires are protected by tariffs and cow quotas.
Yes… but more favourably for Quebec by far than Ontario, and definitely much more exponentially than Atlantic or Western Provinces. Scrap it like the Wheat Board!
An unfair for consumers.
Quebec is entitled to 37% or so of the quotas while having 18% of the population. The West really gets screwed.
Strange how the French lost on the Plains of Abraham in 1759 and yet have somehow become the "language mafia" in the Canadian Confederation as well as recipients of the largest transfer payments in the country.
These MP’s are protecting their cash cows. It is not about helping Canadians, it just another big scam.
Please stop the dumping of excess milk. We have so many families that need help!!!!
It's far more important to keep Quebec dairy quota holders happy.
You think this bad, the USA dumps more milk as they have a huge surplus of milk particularly one full drug etc. That is why they want Board gone so that they can flood the Canadian market.
but they dump milk because they produce more than the market demands. Not because they are only allowed to sell/produce a given volume. That is how every free market works. If they flood the canadian market, it's because canadians want the product.
Most people do not know that the US government under the Federal Milk Marketing Orders sets the minimum prices paid by the producers to farmers. Also there is the Dairy Margin Coverage program that protects milk producers when the difference between the all-milk price and the average feed costs falls below a certain amount. The $ amount is set by the dairy farmer.
President Obama increase the FMMO because dairy farmers had a large surplus of milk , prices dropped and farmers were going out of business.
In passing CDMB could be a red herring because USA has a shortage of milk.
Many policies in our government need an enema! The cartel scheme in Canada needs to be disrupted and overhauled for sure. The CFIA needs to have it's policies and procedures revamped especially in light of the Ostriches in Edgewood, BC. The owner and spokesperson has done a wonderful job of highlighting the problems with CFIA and these policies MUST CHANGE.
The Ostriches' farmer did not test his/her 400 birds for the flue. If they did, I would be more supportive of their dilemma.
FYI, the farm wanted to test their birds. Again, due to poor policy from the CFIA the farmers could be charged $200,000 fine and 6 months in prison for each ostrich tested. They have pleaded to have them tested these last few months but the CFIA will not. I hope you are a little more forgiving with that piece of information. This story is bigger than most people know. There are lots of back stories and yes, the farm maybe did not do everything right. Now, their rights, property, and lively hood are being trampled on by bad government policies. I'm not even blaming the liberals in this. There should be regular updates to all policies and this is coming to a head. This affects all animal farmers and I hope they throw their support behind the UOF.
Fear of competition.
Why is it the only claim is trade works only in allowing the US producers in? Trade works both ways. If we can't compete with the 70 cent dollar and our excess production there is something wrong with the system.
That's right. In that sense it should be a no brainer to export dairy products to the US. With difference in dollar value should make a good advantage to market the dairy products. No need for subsidizing.
The Dr. doesn't go far enough. The dairy industry is and has been for decades now, heavily subsidized. That in it's self is a big cost to the price on the shelf. Anytime an industry is subsidized you are throwing that industry out of balance. As the industry becomes totally reliant on the subsidy, in effect elevates the cost of the end product. Getting rid of it takes adjusting, but it pays off in the end. Good example is the elimination of the Canadian wheat board. The farmers don't miss it now, as they get paid directly from the buyers. No association dues to pay, or middle man.
I should add that, I believe a lot of the processing plants are owned by a Quebec company called, I think Saputo. They are the ones who are ruling this whole thing, another elite owner operation. All the dairy processing companies that I grew up with are long gone, bought out or how ever. Such as Palm dairies, Lucerne, NADP, Foothills, just to mention a few.
Why? Because we have a spineless grifter of a joke of a leader. He is working at destroying our country’s unity.
…and our economy. On purpose. Rotten little WEF lackey.
Yes, but that leader was voted in by ignorant and uninformed gullible voters who keep inflicting on themselves governments that have and are continuing to destroy this country. I have no hope left for this country as it is right now.
True but this grift goes back a hundred years of government policy. Hurting Canadians.
Ten years of the Liberal mafia is our present scourge!
But a hundred years of bad government.
We agree. Completely
"...a rigid structure struggling to withstand global trade pressures..."
Isn't that just another description of a cartel which is not in the interest of the general public? In other words, a monopoly.
It is pretty awesome that supply management, a pillar of the Liberals, will be burned by the Liberals.
Hope You are correct. That would be one less thing to add to our debt.
We don't need federaloversight of dairy or anything else.. we need to allow small farms to prosper ... if anything the government should be encouraging Healthy farm practices, which they are Not
Canada’s supply management system limits domestic production through quotas. It supposedly protects farmers with high import tariffs. Think about exactly who this benefits?? GOVERNMENT AND GOVERNMENT CONTROL!!!! I came from a huge poultry farm in Ontario surrounded by dairy and poultry farmers. I never once heard anyone support this government control…..but I heard many negative and opposing angry conversations! Curious - did Leblanc or Carney or any other Marxist practicing Liberal ever try to run a farm? That no matter how hard you work to expand and increase your production, a bunch of greedy bastards that were elected to “serve” Canadians, instead spend hours deciding how to “control and benefit financially” from your every move!!!!!
The trouble is the Conservatives support supply management too. Nowcand through ten years in power they did nothing to change it. They’re as Marxist as the Liberals. That’s one of the reasons I support the People’s Party.
Perhaps some truthful and honest research?????
So even the left wing Juno News recognizes thatvsupply management is preventing a trade deal with the United States.
Juno News left wing? Thanks for my daily laygh, Bryan. Did you by any chance grow up in one of the big cities full of academics and trade unions?
"Left wing Juno News?" Surely you jest.
I subscribed ahead of the federal election and was disappointed to find their non-stop promotion of the left wing conservative Party with its support for supply management and screeching anti-American rhetoric. You can’t support a commander economy and hate Trump’s American and claim to be conservative.
Left wing Conservative is an oxymoron.
Well said, Sherry.
I can see where You come from. But I do not think it is a matter of "picking" sides. One has to report what one sees. Just My opinion as I am not an insider of this news outlet.
Fine but the also joined the mainstream news boycott of the People’s Party. I didn’t see one mention of PPC during the campaign or since.
Well You may be correct , but it is now open for all to see that read the comments on this page.
.
Aren't American dairy farmers allowed to use Bovine Growth Hormone to increase milk production from their cattle? Do we want to have their milk and cheese in Canada? This was an issue several years ago.
The only province strongly against change is Quebec . There was an article the other day with the BQ leader threatening that Canada was going to keep dumping milk to protect the dairy farmers. As always Quebec seems to feel that the rest of Canada should knuckle under to their demands while ignoring what is best for the rest of Canada.
I don’t know, but you don’t need supply management to stop milk produced using hormones from being imported.
"Quebec does rhis" and "Quebec gets that". Everybody dumps on Quebec. I think they are maybe the smartest peas in the pod: they negotiated for everything they got. The fact that they got it meant that others agreed. I think Alberta should start doing the same.
Quebec doesn’t negotiate, they threaten to leave Canada. I think it is time to put that to a vote. The oil provinces pay extortionate amounts in equalization payments to Quebec, the one of richest provinces in Canada. We have made French our second language. If they had their way it would be our first. We have everything sold in stores in French and English no matter where it is made. They don’t negotiate, they bully.
Even with my French surname I do not agree with French being made a close second language. I think Canada should be like the USA: English only.
I'm pretty much on your side here. I just maintain a bit of respect for the people of Quebec who, because of a very strong French heritage (from France) consider themselves a separate nation and want to maintain that. I don't think they want to run Canada their way, they just want to run Quebec.
Every province runs their own province. I have met some very nice people from Quebec who have the live and let live attitude. They are proud to be Canadian, not necessarily Quebecois. They don’t agree with the Bloc’s attitude to the rest of Canada, even Legault had to admit after the last provincial election that he might have to start to listen to what the people of Quebec really want. Pretty pathetic when the only province that has the power to speak for the people of his province in parliament is not in tune with the people of his province.
Good honest observation, Don.
I did not vote for Quebec to get anything special. I did vote that We all be equal , though!
I essentially agree, Don, but there can be a confusion between the words 'bully' and 'strong negotiation'. Quebec had two referendums to leave Canada and a slight majority said no both times. perhaps there were conditions, but any province can use the same tactic. It's strong bargaining, nothing else. I think perhaps some Canadians are just a bit jealous of how Quebec stands up strongly to Ottawa and gets as much traction as they can to be do independent as they can, but still be within this now-failed union called Confederation.
Now I am not French; my name is Acadian not Quebecois, and I live in Alberta by choice and I sympathize with what the people here mostly want. Have a nice day, man.
Your comment has merit. Quebec knows how to use this "leverage." That is the politicians. We in any Province and Territory could use this same leverage. But then maybe, just maybe We are aware of Our "duties" as Canadians. Not government duties but moral duties!
Very well put. I agree with that. I'm thinking about negotiations between two business partners or an employer and employee. If one side says "I don't like the situation or the conditions, I'll opt out or ask for better conditions "... that might sound like a threat but it's negotiating from strength. I think all the provinced should stand up and do that. I think only Quebec so far has done that, but Alberta (my adopted province) is starting to show that. There is a huge sentiment here for separation from Canada and I'm all for it. I don't think Ottawa will give us anything decent. On that point Smith our premier is wrong. But at least it can never be said that she didn't try unity.
I for one prefer American cheese over Canadian and like the price difference also and how does a small contingency keep a country captive? If you can’t compete your not in business
that is the idea. give people choices, as long as they are informed
isn't it possible to open the trade and specify the production? ie growth hormone or antibiotics detected above a certain level and you get it back. Bet they'll stop pretty quick.
Give the people what they want, as the old Kinks song said. So long as there is buyer-beware information on what is in it. Freedom of choice for everyone.
You would still be able to buy Canadian milk if you want. It would be your choice.
Canadian milk is identified by the blue cow logo. You could still buy it if you chose so.
As far as I know there has never been any health issues with growth hormones. Never heard of anyone dying from it either. And don't think that it is used for dairy production.
American heailth is worse than Canadian?
This is one of the very sad things about what used to be and still is Canada.
The total abomination that is Supply Management, primarily to the benefit of Quebec followed by Ontario is all about votes.
PERIOD... END... FULL STOP...
Even more sadly not a single party of any stripe will go on the record as supporting the one thing the vast majority of regular Canadians seem to support.
That being the complete elimination of this abomination of price fixing and control for solely the benefit of a small handful and all political parties Conservatives included.
The inevitability of human egos runs rampant within the sectors privy to Supply Management and Quota systems. Many of the farmers benefiting from it start to believe it was their own personal genius that led to their healthy personal balance sheets, when all they did was participate in a fascistic governmental control of the industry they work in.
I’ve seen it many times in the Fraser Valley, and I can’t imagine it being any different elsewhere.
Two things will occur; first they will be compensated with more Canadian tax dollars for their “loss,” entirely artificial in the first place. Secondly, their real property values will decrease because they are no longer protected by fascistic governmental interference.
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