Quebec’s Agriculture Minister, Pierre Paradis, has joined
with leaders of the milk marketing board, Agropur and the Union des Producteurs
Agricole to pressure the federal government to curb imports of diafiltered
milk.
Wally Smith, president of Dairy Farmers of Canada, was also
at the meeting this week.
They say they want federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence
MacAulay to enforce the standards.
“Canada’s dairy farmers speak with one voice on diafiltered milk,” Smith said.
“We are collectively disappointed with the lack of action on
enforcement of the cheese standards.
“The government does not need to pass a new law or new
regulation and the solution is simple. It needs to enforce the existing
standards.”
MacAulay has said only that he has put a high priority on
addressing the situation.
It's another example of why the Quebec dairy industry is about as welcome in Ottawa as a skunk at a garden party.