The CEO of the Dairy Processors of Canada says the Bay of Quinte is one of the largest dairy processing regions in all of Canada.
Mathieu Frigon says processors are vital in the supply management of dairy, eggs, and poultry in the country, and they are calling for the feds help.
He says federal trade deals with the EU, Mexico, the US, and Pacific countries, have cost dairy processors about ten percent of their market.
Frigon says the government promised help, but it has never materialized.
” … think the promise has been to both farmers and processors but the announcements so far has been almost exclusively to farmers. We’ve been very patient, we’re going back to 2015.”
He says the money has never arrived, but the deals have cost processors.
“Took away like 10 percent of our market at full implementation. If you combine the three trade agreements (CETA, CPTPP and CUSMA), that means were losing like between $300 and $350 million a year.”
More than 24,000 people are employed by the dairy processing sector, which supports more than 10,000 dairy farms in the county.
Dairy processors are asking for public support of the industry, and you can get more details by CLICKING HERE
