The federal government remained adamant last week that the decision to enter Pacific region trade talks is not a threat to supply management.
In an unusual parliamentary focus on agriculture, the first seven questions during House of Commons question period Nov. 15 were on the issue.
Opposition MPs connected the government decision to abolish the Canadian Wheat Board’s single desk with the renewed threat to protected dairy, poultry and egg producers.
Government leaders insisted they will defend the integrity of the Canadian system of production controls, price-setting and high border tariffs to control imports.
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When prime minister Stephen Harper announced Nov. 13 that Canada wants to be part of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade negotiations and that supply management protections would be up for discussion, it was widely thought to be a concession Canada had to make to be allowed to join the talks.
“Dairy, egg and poultry farmers are worried,” interim New Democratic Party leader Nycole Turmel said in the Commons.
“They have seen the Conservatives’ contempt for their colleagues in Western Canada and the Canadian Wheat Board. What guarantees is the prime minister willing to give that the supply management system will not, under any circumstances and I mean any circumstances, be sacrificed for the sake of the Trans-Pacific Partnership?”
Harper insisted that the government supports supply management while the NDP is anti-trade, even with the United States.
Turmel said the government “simply should say that supply management is off the table.”
Harper brushed off the question.
“This government’s position in favour of supply management is very well known by producers,” he said.
“It is always our intention when we go to the table to ensure we produce, we protect and we promote the interests of all Canadian sectors, including supply management.”
New Democrat Jean Rousseau said it was an example of the government refusing to listen to Quebec, where the dairy industry is strong.
Saskatchewan Liberal Ralph Goodale accused the Conservatives either of lying to TPP members by saying supply management protections are negotiable or to Canadians for insisting they are not.
Harper said the terms of the TPP negotiation allow Canada to defend and promote all its sectors.
“This government is always seeking to increase our international trade by promoting all our sectors in international free trade negotiations.”
Goodale said it was an admission of defeat.
“That answer simply means he is getting ready to slash the tariffs.”
Dairy Farmers of Canada, with the most at stake, remained publicly confident that the government will protect and preserve the supply management system.
“Supply management allows farmers to make a living from the marketplace in Canada,” president Wally Smith said in a statement.
“The government has no desire to see our farmers have to compete against the treasuries of other countries.”
National Farmers Union vice-president Colleen Ross said dairy farmers should not trust the government because it has an agenda to remove marketing power from farmers.
“For many years, the majority of farmers on the Prairies have realized that they would have to fight to save their CWB,” he wrote in an open letter. “These same farmers have appealed to Canadian farmers who operate within supply managed-orderly marketing systems to stand with them at the podium and on the streets, telling the government to keep their hands off their farmer-led and farmer-controlled marketing systems.”
With the Conservatives aiming to abolish the wheat board monopoly, Russ said there is now just one target left: supply management.
