This newsletter will provide you with highlights from industry activities, news that affects dairy processors, feature articles on our members, and more. Feedback and suggestions for future topics are always welcomed by our editor, whose contact information is provided below. We plan to publish our newsletter bimonthly, so look for our next issue in April.
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British Columbia’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy completed its consultation on the proposed Plastics Action Plan at the end of September. Among the proposals British Columbians were asked to comment on, is the removal of an exemption for used milk containers from the province's deposit/refund system, as one measure to increase recycling rates. In addition, input was sought on proposals to ban certain single-use plastic products and to set minimum recycled-content requirements for plastic packaging. A formal announcement is expected this spring.
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On November 20, 2019 the Western Milk Pool announced the creation of Dairy Innovation West (DIW), a new venture that will own a raw milk concentrating plant in Alberta. The new facility will have the capacity to accommodate up to 300 million litres per year, producing concentrated milk components for utilization throughout western Canada. DIW is owned by the four western Milk Boards and will be operated by Vitalus Nutrition Inc. For more information, click here.

Federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau has named Bob Ingratta as the commission’s chairperson for a term ending Dec. 16, 2021, replacing Alistair Johnston. Mr. Ingratta worked in Ottawa for six years (2001-07) as vice-president for regulatory and international affairs with Monsanto Canada, prior to joining the BC Milk Marketing Board as CEO in 2011, where he served until 2017.
 
Minister Bibeau also reappointed Jennifer Hayes for a three-year term as CDC commissioner. Ms. Hayes, first named as a commissioner in 2017, is a dairy and beef producer at Shigawake in Quebec’s Gaspe region and has served as the CDC’s Acting Chair since August 2019.

On May 10, 2019, Global Affairs Canada (GAC) launched the first phase of the comprehensive review of the allocation and administration of Canada’s tariff rate quotas (TRQs) for dairy, poultry and egg products. The first phase of consultations included provincial and territorial governments and covered the entire range of industry stakeholders and key trading partners, which resulted in GAC receiving approximately 200 submissions and holding over 60 meetings with stakeholders...

On February 12, 2019 the Canadian Dairy Commission announced that Plan B Butter manufactured on or after January 1, 2020 will retain the repurchasing rule that was applicable at the end of 2019 which allows this product to remain in CDC’s inventory for a maximum of one (1) year from the date of production of each lot.
 
In addition, Plan B will be open for the 25 kilos butter format (up to a maximum of 1,500 tons). Companies requiring further information may contact Virginie Robert, Chief, Commercial Operations and Marketing at the CDC at (613) 222-8344.

As decided at a recent CMSMC meeting, the CDC re-established the Storage Assistance for Cheese Program. The Program Guide can be found here: Storage Assistance for Cheese January 2020.pdf

Foothills Creamery has been proudly making butter and ice cream products since 1969. Over its proud 50-year history, this Calgary-based family business has grown and evolved and has remained at the forefront of the latest and greatest flavours, new trends and changing demands among butter and dessert lovers of all ages. Foothills Creamery sources local cream, and proudly employs nearly 70 people...

The course is being held May 5 – 8, 2020 at the Food Processing Centre in Leduc, Alberta.
For more information or to register, contact Ken Fahner, FPDC Project Coordinator, Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, 780-980-4246 or ken.fahner@gov.ab.ca.

One of WDC’s key roles is to provide processor representation at industry forums and mandated advisory committees such as the Milk Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) and the Specialty Production Advisory Committee (SPAC) in BC, the Dairy Advisory Committee (DAC) in Alberta and the Canadian Dairy Commission’s Processor Advisory Committee (PAC). These committees are an essential link between dairy processors and the various policymaking and regulatory authorities that govern processors’ businesses, providing opportunities to exchange information and resolve policy issues as they arise. In future editions of this newsletter, we’ll explain the work of these committees in greater detail.
 

One way to have greater input into industry affairs is to participate in Western Dairy Council’s Regional Advisory Committees. Did you know that there are three Regional Advisory Committees (RAC) within WDC? The British Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba/Saskatchewan RACs meet on an ongoing basis to bring forward the perspectives and concerns of member companies within their respective jurisdictions, and to provide the Board with provincial input into regional and national issues where appropriate.
 
If members have issues or topics they want to raise with the WDC Board, provincial Marketing Boards or the Western Milk Pool, they can go through their local RAC. To contact a specific RAC, email info@westerndairycouncil.com.

Contact our editor:
Sarah Cotton
Communications
Western Dairy Council
sarah@sarahcotton.ca

Inaction of the Federal Government dismays the Canadian dairy processing community

September 4, 2019 (Ottawa, ON): The Dairy Processors Association of Canada (DPAC), the Conseil des Industriels Laitiers du Québec (CILQ), the  Ontario Dairy Council (ODC), and the Western Dairy Council (WDC) are all disappointed with the Government of Canada’s decision to renege on its promise to compensate the dairy processing sector for the economic harm caused by the recent conclusions of negotiations for CETA, CPTPP, and CUSMA.

“The Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Marie-Claude Bibeau, has repeatedly and publicly stated the Government’s commitment to fully and fairly compensate Canadian dairy processors for the economic harm they continue to experience,” said Mathieu Frigon, President and Chief Executive Officer of DPAC. “It is clear now that the Government does not intend to honour that commitment.”

The lack of a compensation package has left Canadian dairy processors with no clear direction when it comes to this government's plan to mitigate the negative impacts of trade agreements. “This is extremely disappointing. Dairy farmers and dairy processors were equal partners in the Mitigation Working Group established by the Minister, but only the farming sector was heard” explained Charles Langlois, Président-directeur général of CILQ. 

Everyone understands that a healthy dairy sector requires both thriving farmers and thriving processors. “It is unclear at this stage if this Government shares this belief” added Christina Lewis, President of the ODC. 

Dairy processors are committed to investing in the Canadian dairy sector to generate growth, and they have steadfastly advocated for two key tools to achieve that objective: the allocation of dairy import licenses to dairy processors and financial compensation in the form of investment incentives. “Investment is what the dairy sector clearly needs, and investment-generating government measures are what dairy processors were looking for. We are going to have to work very hard with the next government to get this right when Parliament reconvenes,” continued Dan Wong, President of the WDC.

The processing community calls on the next government to correct this inaction and to deliver on the promise of full and fair compensation to Canada’s dairy processors.

Dairy processing is the second largest food processing industry in Canada, contributing more than $18 billion annually to the national economy. Dairy processors directly employ 24,000 Canadians in over 470 facilities across the country, with an aggregate payroll of $1.2 billion. Dairy processors are major employers in communities across Canada, and especially in rural communities, providing good jobs to middle-class Canadians.

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Media Contact:
Dan Wong
President, Western Dairy Council
(604) 675-7163
​info@westerndairycouncil.com

The BC Dairy Historical Society seeks nominations of producers, processors, BC Dairy Pioneers, supporters of the BC Dairy industry, writers or other individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the BC Dairy Industry.

"Good morning, and thank you all for being here. I’d like to acknowledge that we are gathered on the traditional territory of the Algonquin.
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In his book about the war of 1812, the historian Alan Taylor describes how, at the height of the conflict between the United States and British Canada, the U.S. forces unaccountably held off trying to invade the St. Lawrence River valley.               
Such an invasion might have dramatically changed the outcome of the war. But it never happened...

July. 17/2017