Supply managed groups welcome it while others believe it handcuffs Canada
A fast-tracked piece of legislation related to Canadian agriculture has industry groups voicing different opinions.
Bill C-202, which prohibits supply-managed products from being included in future trade negotiations, is poised to receive royal assent after the Senate completed its third reading on June 17.
Bloc Leader Yves-François Blanchet introduced the bill in the House of Commons on May 29.
For context, in the previous session of Parliament, lawmakers debated over Bill C-282, which set out similar parameters as C-202.
Bloc MP Luc Thériault tabled C-282 in the House on June 13, 2022. The legislation went as far as the committee stage in the Senate, and that finished on Nov. 7, 2024.
C-202, its implications, and the way lawmakers handled proceedings, has divided Canadian ag.
On one side is the dairy, poultry, and egg farmers whom the bill supports.
Dairy Farmers of Canada, Chicken Farmers of Canada, Egg Farmers of Canada, Turkey Farmers of Canada, and the Canadian Hatching Egg Producers, welcome the bill’s pending passage.
Between trade agreements with North American, European and Asian nations, Canada has conceded about 20 per cent of its dairy market.
Passing C-202 protects Canada’s domestic market and supports trade diversification, the groups say.
“This strong commitment equips Canada to continue to expand market opportunities for Canadian agriculture and agri-food exports, while safeguarding the food sovereignty of our country,” the groups said in a June 18 release.
Other groups, however, feel different.
Putting up trade barriers before negotiations even begin only hurts Canadian ag, Grain Growers of Canada says.
“With critical trade negotiations and renegotiations ahead, including with our largest trading partner, the United States, passing Bill C-202 sends the wrong message internationally,” Kyle Larkin, the organization’s executive director, said in a statement. “For grain farmers who rely on access to international markets, the result will be less ambitious trade agreements, fewer export opportunities, and slower economic growth at home.”
The cattle industry also opposes Bill C-202.
Sending the bill through the House and Senate so quickly didn’t allow for proper debate and consideration, said Tyler Fulton, president of the Canadian Cattle Association.
“We are extremely concerned that the bill was fast-tracked by Members of Parliament through unanimous consent with no consultation and no debate,” he said on X. “At a time when Canada should be focused on strengthening trade diversification and opening new markets for Canadian goods, we are disappointed to see Canada’s Parliamentarians prioritize protectionism through legislation.”
The Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance is also concerned about the message C-202 sends.
The organization calls the bill a “flawed piece of legislation that sets a troubling precedent.”
And with this bill set to become law, the onus is on the government to increase trade opportunities.
“With this setback, CAFTA urges the federal government to refocus its efforts on delivering its accelerated trade diversification agenda. This includes opening new markets, investing in and supporting the priorities of the export-oriented agriculture sector, addressing non-tariff barriers impacting existing trade agreements, and removing regulatory barriers that unnecessarily restrict the sector’s growth and competitiveness,” the organization said in a statement.