The federal government is doling out tax dollars to
the supply-managed dairy industry.
In a news release, the federal agriculture
department says “Dairy Farmers of Canada will receive $416,000 to design and
implement a national traceability program for dairy cattle, update standards
for milk producers to meet traceability requirements, as well as train and
assist provincial associations with program implementation at the producer
level.
“In addition, $529,000 will be used to implement the proAction
Initiative, a national assurance program for dairy production that demonstrates
the dairy industry’s continued commitment to customers to provide high-quality,
safe Canadian milk and dairy products that are produced responsibly.
“This includes on-farm
pilot testing of assessment tools and producer training."
These grants make absolutely no sense because dairy farmers, under
supply management, have the ability and legislative permission to charge enough
for the milk they market to cover all of their costs plus provide a reasonable
return for their investments, labour and management.
We, the public have paid them a generous price already. It’s an
injustice to use our tax dollars to pay them more. And doubly wrong to provide subsidies for things they ought to be doing on their own.
