Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) talks were up in the air this week, stirring up more conversation about supply management in Canada. The provinces have been weighing in on the talk, with Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall publicly supporting the massive trade deal on Facebook, while the Ontario government is a little more anxious, having written a letter to federal Trade Minister Ed Fast in regards to concerns about the automotive and agricultural sectors.
Agriculture ministers from Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick also went to Atlanta this week to express their concerns about the TPP.
While Manitoba is not at the negotiating table, Agriculture, Food, and Rural Development Minister Ron Kostyshyn says it is important to support the TPP, but not at the expense of Canadian dairy farmers.
"We felt as government that we needed to say supply management is very key. The other thing that's very key is that it's locally processed food," he says in a conference call Friday morning. "It's an economic drive to the province of Manitoba and also an added value of opportunities."
Source : PortageOnline