Senate committee makes major changes to Bloc Québécois supply management bill

OTTAWA – Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet accused senators of betraying their fellow Canadians to benefit Americans and other trade partners, after a Senate committee voted to add a major caveat to a Bloc supply management bill.

Still, Blanchet said Thursday he’s optimistic the changes will be reversed when the legislation comes up for third reading in the Senate.

The private member’s bill seeks to protect Canada’s supply management system during international trade negotiations. The dairy, egg and poultry sectors are all supply managed, which means production levels, wholesale prices and trade are all regulated.