On November 18, 2021, in response to extreme weather events in the southwestern region of the province and the Fraser Valley in particular, the Government of British Columbia declared a provincial state of emergency to mitigate the impacts on transportation networks and the movement of essential goods and supplies, including raw milk and finished dairy products.

​All WDC members in British Columbia and several outside the province have been directly affected by the events and resulting disruptions to the dairy supply chain. The Fraser Valley accounts for three-quarters of British Columbia’s milk supply and is home to several major processing plants. The disastrous flooding of more than sixty dairy farms and the closing of all access routes into and out of the region has inhibited the supply of milk to processing plants throughout the Lower Mainland. 

The Western Dairy Council is working closely with the BC Milk Marketing Board, the
​BC Dairy Association, the Canadian Dairy Commission and the Dairy Processors Association of Canada along with all federal, provincial and local government authorities to respond quickly and effectively to supply chain disruptions resulting from these events. As always, our primary interest to make sure consumers have ready access to fresh dairy products wherever they are located. We applaud and support the efforts of everyone in the dairy industry, in government and in the local communities to restore the supply chains and get products to market as quickly as possible despite the circumstances. 

The Western Dairy Council and its members were shocked and dismayed by recently-released video footage showing disturbing incidents of animal abuse at a Fraser Valley dairy farm. Our members do not condone the mistreatment of animals at any farm under any circumstances and appreciated the swift action taken by the BC Milk Marketing Board (BCMMB) to suspend the farm’s license, pending investigation, upon learning of the incidents.
 
Since that time, we have been kept apprised of BCMMB’s investigation and the resulting Corrective Action Plan that it has set as a requirement to reintegrate the farm’s milk back into the supply. We understand that BCMMB’s decision to reinstate the farm’s license is conditional on the full implementation of the Corrective Action Plan. We expect that BCMMB will ensure that all provisions of the plan, including requirements for continuous external oversight and frequent, unannounced inspections, will be completely adhered to at all times.