Dairy industry remains concerned over CUSMA

Nov 17, 2022

The Dairy Farmers of Canada have mixed feelings about this week's funding announcement from Ottawa.

Federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau re-confirmed Ottawa's commitment to compensate the Supply Management sector over the Canada, U-S, Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).

Bibeau says $1.7 billion dollars will be shared by dairy, poultry, egg producers and processors impacted by CUSMA.

That money will be delivered through direct payments and investment programs.

David Wiens, Vice President of the Dairy Farmers of Canada says they would just as soon not have had to give up any markets at all.

"Because, of course, this trade deal goes on into, you know, it's a continuous thing. So we'll never get those markets back that we lost. But certainly, we appreciate the the recognition of damage done in this trade deal by our federal government."

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Video: Finding a Balance of Innovation and Regulation - Dr. Peter Facchini

Regulations help markets and industry exist on level playing fields, keeping consumers safe and innovation from going too far. However, incredibly strict regulations can stunt innovation and cause entire industries to wither away. Dr. Peter James Facchini brings his perspective on how existing regulations have slowed the advancement of medical developments within Canada. Given the international concern of opium poppy’s illicit potential, Health Canada must abide by this global policy. But with modern technology pushing the development of many pharmaceuticals to being grown via fermentation, is it time to reconsider the rules?

Dr. Peter James Facchini leads research into the metabolic biochemistry in opium poppy at the University of Calgary. For more than 30 years, his work has contributed to the increased availability of benzylisoquinoline alkaloid biosynthetic genes to assist in the creation of morphine for pharmaceutical use. Dr. Facchini completed his B.Sc. and Ph.D. in Biological Sciences at the University of Toronto before completing Postdoctoral Fellowships in Biochemistry at the University of Kentucky in 1992 & Université de Montréal in 1995.