USMCA: Farming industry hit again

The Trudeau government has sacrificed Supply Management in dairy, eggs and poultry yet again in capitulation to Donald Trump and his United-States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

After Canada giving away 3.2 per cent of the dairy industry in Stephen Harper’s Trans-Pacific Partnership, and four per cent market share to the Europeans in Trudeau’s Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), our federal government has once again secured USMCA at the expense of Island and Canadian farmers. As well as the 220,000 Canadians directly affected by this decision, all of us will have to pay through needed subsidies, and an uncertain future for a secure supply of high-quality affordable dairy, egg and poultry products. While our Canadian government is chipping away at Supply Management, with its demonstrated balance between prices and income for agricultural producers, our four Island MPs have been missing in action. The silence of Wayne Easter, former President of the National Farmers’ Union, and Lawrence MacAulay, federal Minister of Agriculture, is particularly disappointing.

Before our federal representative, and the MacLauchlan government for that matter, proceed to whitewash and downplay the impact of USMCA, they need to reflect on their inaction on this file, as will Islanders; and the damage caused to our agricultural industry here, and in Canada.

Joe Byrne,

Leader of the New Democratic Party of Prince Edward Island