Quebec farmers, cows protest ahead of federal leaders' debate
Proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership would hurt dairy industry, reps say
Quebec dairy farmers thrust their fight over supply management into the election spotlight today, bringing a pair of cows to the site of tonight's federal leaders debate.
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.
Hundreds of Quebec farmers -- and two cows-- are now in front of Maison Radio-Canada <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbcmtl?src=hash">#cbcmtl</a> <a href="http://t.co/JzdGJfNzbr">pic.twitter.com/JzdGJfNzbr</a>
—@AntoniNerestantLifting 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.
Farmers want federal party leaders to take a stand on food and dairy import quotas <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbcmtl?src=hash">#cbcmtl</a> <a href="http://t.co/PAFfnN70Z4">pic.twitter.com/PAFfnN70Z4</a>
—@AntoniNerestantThe abolition of Canada's dairy supply management system would threaten 4,500 to 6,000 farms and up to 24,000 direct jobs across the country, according to a study commissioned by dairy co-operative Agropur.
with files from Canadian Press