Protesters gathered on the front lawn of CBC’s Montreal headquarters, Maison Radio-Canada, holding up signs calling for the federal government to support local agriculture.
Quebec accounts for half of Canada’s dairy farms, and representatives from the industry are concerned about the potential impact of the proposed 12-country Trans-Pacific Partnership.
The United States, Australia and New Zealand have been pushing for greater access to Canada’s dairy sector in particular.
The question of whether to loosen supply management of the dairy sector — and by how much — has been met by strong opposition from dairy farmers and could have major political ramifications in Quebec.
Bruno Letendre, head of Quebec milk producers, said in a statement the province’s cheese producers have already been hurt by a recent free-trade pact with Europe allowing more imports.
Lifting dairy restrictions as part of the TPP agreement would be another blow to the local industry, he said.
«Producers have good reason to be suspicious,» Letendre said.
Bruno Letendre, head of Quebec milk producers, said in a statement the province’s cheese producers have already been hurt by a recent free-trade pact with Europe allowing more imports.
Lifting dairy restrictions as part of the TPP agreement would be another blow to the local industry, he said.
«Producers have good reason to be suspicious,» Letendre said.
Source: CBC News