MPs tout supply management as fix for poor countries, aim to shelter from trade deals
OTTAWA –
Members of Parliament are rallying to bolster Canada’s system of defending dairy and poultry costs amid commerce offers, and counsel creating international locations do the identical.
The House of Commons commerce committee is ready to undertake its ultimate, detailed evaluate Thursday of a Bloc Quebecois invoice geared toward tying commerce negotiators’ arms in order that new offers do not chip away on the system that controls quotas and costs for sure industries.
Since 1972, Ottawa and the provinces have regulated the availability and price of eggs, dairy and poultry by means of steep tariffs on imports, with slight tweaks for commerce offers within the final decade which have drawn the ire of Canada’s highly effective agriculture foyer.
The laws would make it tougher for negotiators to present floor on a system that proponents argue retains a secure provide of products and protects farms, however which detractors say drives up the price of grocery payments and results in farmers dumping tens of millions of litres of completely good milk.
In a Tuesday report, the House agriculture committee referred to as on Ottawa to additional defend the system, and to make use of it as a mannequin to “give vulnerable countries greater food sovereignty” by being much less reliant on imports.
The committee urged the federal authorities to “consider ways its international development programming can promote the exchange of lessons learned in the areas of production and price stability with farmers in developing countries.”
The thought stems from November testimony by Michael Fakhri, the UN particular rapporteur on the proper to meals. He famous poorer international locations’ want for secure meals, which could be achieved by stockpiling meals and by manipulating its worth available in the market.
“Canada has been really good at maintaining stable prices through systems of supply management,” he testified. “The Canadian experience is something that can be shared.”
Supply administration is broadly seen as a sacred cow in Canadian politics, with the agriculture sector utilizing its clout throughout the nation to push events to keep up the established order.
Conservative leaders who advocate for much less market intervention usually shrink back from altering provide administration, with present Leader Pierre Poilievre and former social gathering chief Andrew Scheer each arguing modifications to the regime would harm farmers.
The laws aiming to guard provide managed sectors in commerce negotiations, Bill C-282, handed the Commons in second studying by a margin of 293 to 23, with these opposing the invoice consisting principally of Conservatives from the Prairies.
Lobbyists for the cattle and lentil industries have opposed the laws, saying it should make international locations push for concessions in commerce offers that concentrate on agriculture sectors that are not underneath provide administration, notably those who depend on exporting commodities.
Trade Minister Mary Ng says her authorities helps the invoice, and performed down the thought of retaliation.
“I believe we are able to negotiate strong agreements that provide good market access for our Canadian exporters while we protect supply management at the same time,” she advised the House commerce committee final month.
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed April 20, 2023.
