Egg Farmers of Canada chair Peter Clarke spent several days recently at a national meeting of municipal politicians in Vancouver, making the case for supply management.
The Nova Scotia egg producer said it was an easy sell.
Municipal leaders are important allies of the supply management system as it faces challenges in international trade talks.
“These folks (municipal leaders) understand the importance of supply management and a stable farm economy to their communities,” he said. “Politics goes from the local level and the local population up, so their support and understanding are very important.”
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His appearance at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities annual meeting, including a supply management booth, followed the May 30 release of an EFC-sponsored national survey that showed substantial support for supply management from municipal leaders.
The survey of 124 municipal leaders by the research and polling company Ipsos Reid showed strong support for supply management and an understanding of the importance of a stable farm economy to urban communities.
“Like many Canadians, what municipal leaders do overwhelmingly understand is the need to keep local dairy and poultry farms healthy,” said an analysis of the study published with the report.
“They cited the importance of ensuring their citizens have access to fresh, safe and affordable food and that farmers get fair, stable producer prices. They also realize the important role farming plays in the local economy.”
The survey found the most negative comments in Western Canada. More than 26 percent of local leaders interviewed came from the Prairies.
Quebec civic leaders were the most supportive and knowledgeable about the issue. The four percent of survey respondents “not at all supportive” were from the Prairies.
Eleven percent said they did not support the system and cited a belief that it hindered the free market, had excessive regulations and created artificially high food prices.
Ipsos Reid said the leaders interviewed represent 25 percent of Canada’s population.
The analysis of the study data said most local leaders understood that dismantling supply management would hurt farmers and the local economy while not ensuring that consumers would receive the benefit of lower farmgate prices.
Clarke said the support he found for supply management at the FCM meeting came from all sizes of communities. He said a growing support for the local food movement is a major factor.
“The more they understand supply management, the more they understand that we supply reliable fresh local food and the more they support that,” he said.
The Ipsos Reid study suggested the results show farmers and others in the industry should do more education about the importance of the system to municipalities, whether they represent farmers or not.
“While the vast majority of mayors and reeves surveyed support supply management, there is a clear opportunity for farmers and stakeholders to expand public education efforts,” it said. “Dispelling myths and falsehoods will set the groundwork for more constructive dialogues.”
