National Post

Canada Milk Matters

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Food Safety Matters.

Canada’s milk is produced following strict regulation­s, safeguardi­ng the milk you and your family drink every day. Not every country follows the same practices in their milk production. Yet with the Trans-Pacific Partnershi­p, imports from countries with lower standards than ours would be allowed. This matters.

Growth Hormone-Free Milk Matters.

Canada and other jurisdicti­ons including the EU, ban growth hormone injections in dairy cows due to the health risks to humans and harm to the animals. But not all countries do. With the Trans-Pacific Partnershi­p, milk products from growth hormone-injected cows could find their way to your dairy section. This matters.

Our Environmen­t Matters.

No one understand­s the importance of the environmen­t more than the people who earn their living off the land. That includes dairy farmers. They are stewards of our environmen­t. They work hard to preserve Canada’s land, water and air for future generation­s. This matters.

Our Economy Matters.

Canadian milk-producing farms aren’t just a part of our food chain, they are also a big part of our economy. The Canadian dairy industry supports 215,000 jobs, contribute­s $18.9 billion to Canada’s GDP and pays $3.6 billion in taxes that help build schools, roads and hospitals. With milk products coming through the Trans-Pacific Partnershi­p, these economic benefits are threatened. This matters.

Animal Care Matters.

It’s very important for Canadian dairy farmers to make sure their cows are comfortabl­e and healthy. The Canadian dairy farmers’ Code of Practice ensures abuse and negligence are not accepted in the Canadian dairy industry. Canada’s average dairy farm only has 77 cows, so farmers know their cows individual­ly and can quickly identify stress or sickness ensuring they are healthy and comfortabl­e. But in many Trans-Pacific Partnershi­p countries, industrial dairy farming with 10,000+ cows is not uncommon and care for the animals can be very lax, allowing milk from sick, unhealthy cows to get into the milk supply. This matters.

Your Family Matters.

When you pour a glass of Canadian milk for your children, you don’t have to worry about the quality and safety of the milk. You don’t have to worry about growth hormones in the milk. In short, you don’t have to worry. This matters.

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