Liberal MP in tricky spot over trade pact

OTTAWA • The newly struck North American trade agreement will let more American dairy products into Canada and, while it has yet to be ratified, it’s already putting at least one MP from the governing Liberals in an awkward spot.

A couple of weeks ago, Quebec Liberal MP Pierre Breton offered support to farmers in his rural riding of Shefford at a protest that opposed his government’s trade policy. Theatrically.

On a small stage in Granby Breton took a mouthful of American milk. Then he spat it on the ground for a cheering crowd of farmers.

The moment — when Breton sprayed the milk from his mouth — was captured in photos and on video. The images accompanied local newspaper and TV reports about his public display of solidarity with the demonstrating farmers.

“It’s not real milk,” a smiling Breton can be heard saying in one video as another man on stage hands him the bottle.

One news report said some 300 farmers participated in the demonstration against Trudeau’s trade deal.

The Trudeau government’s agreement-in-principle with the United States and Mexico, once finalized, will open up Canada’s protected dairy market by 3.59 per cent. Dairy producers argue cracking open the country’s doors to American milk will hurt their bottom lines and expose Canadians to an inferior product. They have warned it will have a “dramatic impact” on individual producers and the industry as a whole.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has defended the trade agreement, hailing it as a big victory for Canada after 14 months of tough negotiations. But the deal’s contentious dairy provisions, and the resulting outrage, could echo in dairy-producing regions in the leadup to the October 2019 federal election.