Last month a new private members bill (C-282) was introduced, and passed second reading in the House of Commons.
If the bill passes, it would give Canada’s supply managed farmers (dairy, poultry, eggs and turkey) immunity from concessions in future trade negotiations, says a consumer expert.
David Clement, Toronto-based North American Affairs Manager at the Consumer Choice Center, responded to the bill stating “further protecting supply managed farmers is the opposite of what Canada should be doing while we are dealing with a food affordability crisis.”
“The best evidence available shows us that supply management inflates costs for Canadian consumers, adding upwards of $500 to the average family’s grocery bill each year, which in turn pushes between 133,000 and 189,000 Canadians below the poverty line.” said Clement.
“If we are going to enact any legislation regarding supply managed goods, it should be a phase out of this archaic and backwards program. Keeping it, and further entrenching it, only worsens food inflation in Canada, while significantly limiting our ability to trade internationally,” concludes Clement.