NEWS PROVIDED BY
The Office of the Prime Minister

May 5, 2020 (Ottawa, Ontario): In uncertain times, it is more critical than ever for Canadians to have access to good, high quality, and nutritious food. That is why the Government of Canada is taking steps to support the farmers and businesses who provide Canadians with the food they need to keep themselves and their families healthy.

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced important measures within agriculture programs and an investment of more than $252 million to support farmers, food businesses, and food processors who provide essential services to Canadians every day by ensuring a safe and reliable food supply. He also announced that the government intends to propose an additional $200 million in borrowing capacity for the sector.

The Government of Canada will provide targeted support to farmers, ranchers, agricultural producers, and food processors by:

• Creating a $77.5 million Emergency Processing Fund to help food producers access more personal protective equipment (PPE), adapt to health protocols, automate or modernize their facilities, processes, and operations, and respond to emerging pressures from COVID-19 so they can better supply Canadians with food during this period.
• Launching a national AgriRecovery initiative of up to $125 million in funding to help producers faced with additional costs incurred by COVID-19. This includes set-asides for cattle and hog management programs to manage livestock backed-up on farms, due to the temporary closure of food processing plants. This new federal funding will help beef and pork producers and processors adapt to a changing market, and help farmers and ranchers keep their animals longer before marketing.
• Announcing the intention to increase the Canadian Dairy Commission’s borrowing limit by $200 million to support costs associated with the temporary storage of cheese and butter to avoid food waste. The government will work with opposition parties to achieve the required legislative change.  
• Launching a first-ever Surplus Food Purchase Program with an initial $50 million fund designed to help redistribute existing and unsold inventories, which could include products such as potatoes and poultry, to local food organizations who are serving vulnerable Canadians.
• Working with provinces and territories to increase interim payments from 50 per cent to 75 per cent through AgriStability, a federal, provincial and territorial program that supports producers who face significant revenue declines. This change has already been enacted in some provinces.
• Working with provinces and territories to explore possibilities for expanding the AgriInsurance program to include labour shortages as an eligible risk for the horticulture sector. This work with provincial and territorial partners would insure against lost production due to an insufficient workforce, should producers be unable to find enough labour to harvest.

The Government of Canada recognizes all workers across our food supply chain who provide an essential service to our country. We will continue to monitor and respond to the wide-ranging impacts of COVID-19, and take additional actions as needed to protect the health and safety of Canadians, and stabilize the economy.

Quotes
“Canadians count on farmers and producers to provide them with the food they need to feed themselves and their families. Today, we are giving them the support they need to keep their workers safe and food systems running during this challenging time, for the benefit of all Canadians.”
- The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada

“The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on Canadians in all communities and in all sectors of the economy. With this announcement, we are giving agricultural producers and food processors more resources to adapt to the many challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and, above all, to keep workers safe. Canada’s agricultural sector is interconnected. So the new investments we are making will have a positive impact up and down the production chain.”
- The Hon. Bill Morneau, Minister of Finance

“I want to reassure all our farmers and agri-business owners across the agri-food industry that our government fully understands that they are essential to our communities and that we are fully engaged to help them through this unprecedented period. We are grateful for the dedication of our hard working food workers – from the farm to the retail store – every day to ensure we continue to have food on our family tables. This support will help food producers and processors to continue providing the food Canadians need, and help ensure food availability for all Canadians in these uncertain times.”
- The Hon. Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Quick Facts

• Federal, provincial and territorial governments invest, on average, close to $1.6 billion annually in business risk management programs to help producers remain viable under difficult circumstance. These programs include AgriInsurance, AgriStability, AgriInvest, and AgriRecovery.
• The enrolment deadline for the 2020 AgriStability program has been extended to July 3, 2020. The federal, provincial, and territorial governments agreed to the change to help producers deal with current market disruption and production challenges. British Columbia, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Prince Edward Island, and Alberta have all already agreed to the 75 per cent AgriStability interim payment.
• AgriRecovery funding is normally cost shared between federal, provincial, and territorial governments. This program will become more flexible so that the federal government can directly provide its share of the funding to producers, regardless of whether provinces and territories are able to contribute.
• The government has already committed significant resources to ensure industry has the support and tools needed to manage through these difficult times, including:
  • $50 million to ensure farmers can safely welcome temporary foreign workers with measures necessary to follow the Quarantine Act, by assisting with the incremental costs of the mandatory 14-day isolation period. In April, sector partners, in close collaboration with the federal government, successfully brought in over 80 per cent of the normal amount of Temporary Foreign Workers to Canada, compared to the previous year.
  • New measures to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program to help mitigate a shortfall in the workforce.
  • $20 million to bolster services of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
  • $100 million to organizations addressing food insecurity such as food banks.
  • $25 million through Nutrition North to ensure food security for Canada’s most vulnerable.
  • An additional $5 billion lending capacity for Farm Credit Canada, which has already resulted in loan deferrals valued at over $3 billion.
  • $173 million in deferred Advanced Payment program loans for grain, cattle, and flower producers.
  • $62.5 million for a new Canadian Seafood Stabilization Fund to help Canada’s fish and seafood processing sector.

NEWS PROVIDED BY
Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) Apr 29, 2020, 14:37 ET

OTTAWA, April 29, 2020 /CNW/ - The Dairy Farmers of Canada and the Dairy Processors Association of Canada confirm today, that not only were parliamentarians misled by the Trudeau Government, but they too were misled on the date of implementation of Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA). As such they echo the concerns expressed by the Honourable Don Plett, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, who indicated he had a commitment from the government on the date.

The dairy sector had secured the support of parliamentarians to have the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) come into force in conjunction with the beginning of the dairy year (August 1, 2020). This would have allowed the sector a full 12-months of exports per the negotiated concession for  year-one threshold limit on key dairy products, before being constrained by the significant reduction conceded in year two of the agreement. As part of CUSMA, Canada not only transferred to the US part of our domestic dairy production, but it also agreed to self imposed limits on exports of key dairy products.

"Our government was first out of the gate to give notice to the other parties that it was ready to implement CUSMA. The dairy sector was informed at the last minute and judging by the reaction from the opposition parties, we weren't alone in this being a complete surprise," said Jacques Lefebvre, CEO of Dairy Farmers of Canada.

The Trudeau government proceeded to reassure the sector said Mathieu Frigon, President of Dairy Processors Association of Canada, "It told us not to worry, Canada had to send a signal to the US administration that it was committed to CUSMA, but that both the US and Mexico were nowhere close to being able to give notice, thus we shouldn't be concerned about an early implementation date". 
The impact of yet another concession on dairy to the US on the part of the federal government is significant. By coming into force before the start of the dairy year on August 1, 2020, the first-year export cap and access volume will apply immediately and for just a few weeks before a significantly lower second-year export cap is triggered, and significantly more volume is imported into Canada. 
That means an almost 40% reduction in exports being imposed on the Canadian dairy sector as we are focused on ensuring a continued supply of fresh, local dairy products for Canadians.  For dairy producers and processors the early implementation by one month of CUSMA is estimated to represent up to $100 million in losses. Furthermore, the sector will need to contend with an additional $330 million in annual perpetual losses as a result of the lost market share.

ABOUT DAIRY FARMERS OF CANADA
Dairy Farmers of Canada is the national policy, lobbying and promotional organization representing Canadian dairy producers. DFC strives to create stable conditions for the dairy sector in our country. It also seeks to maintain policies that promote the sustainability of Canadian dairy production and promote dairy products and their health benefits.

ABOUT THE DAIRY PROCESSORS ASSOCIATION OF CANADA
The Dairy Processors Association of Canada is Canada's national industry association representing the public policy and regulatory interests of the Canadian dairy processing industry. DPAC's members represent some of the most recognized brands in Canada, providing work to over 23,000 Canadians and contributing $17.3 billion to the national economy.

SOURCE Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC)

For further information: MEDIA CONTACTS: Lucie Boileau, Director of Communications, Dairy Farmers of Canada, lucie.boileau@dfc-plc.ca, 613-220-1724; Amélie Baillargeon, Coordinator, Public Affairs and Operations, Dairy Processors Association of Canada, abaillargeon@dpac-atlc.ca, 613-232-7242 ext. 104

On April 2, 2020, Canada notified the United States and Mexico of the completion of its domestic ratification process with respect to the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).  With this action, Canada became the first country to provide its notification under the trade agreement.  Mexico followed shortly thereafter.​

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.

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

Food Processing Skills Canada (FPSC) is a not-for-profit workforce development and skills organization specifically focused on Canada's food and beverage manufacturing industries.
FPSC has launched its latest Labour Market Information survey, which will provide vital information on workforce and skills requirements in the food processing sector, including information specific to the dairy industry.
We encourage you to take a few minutes to complete the survey using the following links:

2020foodprocessorsurvey.ca (English); sondage2020destransformateursdesaliments.ca (French)

The results of the LMI survey will be helpful in your long-term human resources and workforce planning.

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 COVID-19 pandemic has forced the cancellation or postponement of events and gatherings throughout the world.  This is equally true of the Canadian dairy industry.  We had been planning to profile several upcoming events and professional development opportunities for our members but as of now all of these events have been postponed. Please stay tuned for updates.
 
IDF International Cheese Science & Technology Symposium – postponed until 2021

WDC 2020 Golf tournament – postponed
 
Alberta Pasteurizer Operator Licensing course – postponed until further notice

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
info@westerndairycouncil.com

As of March 30, all four provinces in western Canada have designated the food supply and its supporting industries, including processing, "critical" or essential" in the face of the the COVID-19 crisis. The common thread in each of these actions is that businesses supporting the food supply chain are not subject to the shutdown orders or restrictions on non-essential businesses. 

Details of each province's announcement can be found at:
​
https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020PSSG0020-000568
https://www.alberta.ca/essential-services.aspx
https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/news-and-media/2020/march/25/allowable-business-services
https://news.gov.mb.ca/news/index.html?item=47337&posted=2020-03-30
https://news.gov.mb.ca/asset_library/en/newslinks/2020/03/BG-PHA_-_COVID-19-PR.pdf

Global Affairs Canada has provided an update on the Comprehensive Review of the Allocation and Administration of Tariff Rate Quotas for Dairy, Poultry and Egg Products – Phase II.
 
As you know, the Government launched Phase II of the Review on February 14, 2020 with a deadline for submissions from interested stakeholders of April 3, 2020.
 
Due to the challenging period we are all facing in regards to the global COVID19 outbreak, Global Affairs Canada is extending the second phase of the consultations and deadline for stakeholder submissions to May 4, 2020.
 
Please use this email TRQConsultation.ConsultationCT@international.gc.ca to ask any technical questions or provide any input to the consultations.

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.

                                                                                                     -30-
Media Contact:
Dan Wong
President, Western Dairy Council
(604) 675-7163
​info@westerndairycouncil.com