Dairy system essential

Dear editor: Re: “How to avoid a devastating trade war,” column, Aug. 24. I don’t think one can negotiate a far-reaching trade deal “by the end of a gun” or by threats, blackmail or intimidation. Capitulation is not a bargaining strategy.

Our dairy, poultry and egg marketing boards have to be maintained, as they are critical to our food security and thus our national security.

Without them, we would lose most of our family farms because we cannot compete with highly subsidized cheaper U.S. imports and thus lose our ability to feed ourselves.

Any supply problems (disease, terrorism, viruses or tweets) could prevent access to these imported staples. These marketing boards protect our food and sovereignty. Canada does not subsidize our agriculture, so all costs are borne by the consumer.

The U.S. is the largest supplier of dairy in the world, and subsidizes its dairy producers more than $22 billion per year. Some point out that Australia ended its dairy supplymanagement system, but it does not have a huge supplier on its border that will undercut its dairy farmers.

Our relationship with our southern neighbour, which has a population 10 times larger and the largest economy in the world, has forced us to hold onto what some say is an “outdated relic,” but is our only defence.

Congressman Rick Crawford said in commenting on a 2018 U.S. farm bill: “A nation that can’t feed itself is a nation that is insecure, potentially a threat to enemies around the world that would really like to take advantage of that.”

Bruce Clarke Victoria