Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet on Wednesday slammed media and critics of Canada’s supply management system as uninformed aggressors.It would be unthinkable for Parliament to renege on trade protection for dairy farmers, he said, per Blacklock’s Reporter.Both Prime Minister Mark Carney and Tory leader Pierre Poilievre said during the election campaign this year they unequivocally stand by the dairy quota system. PPC leader Maxime Bernier was the sole party leader to oppose it.“I have read so many things about supply management recently,” Blanchet told reporters. “When media say, ‘Okay, we will speak to an expert,’ and the guy is an enemy of supply management from the beginning, he is no expert. He is a militant.”.‘OFF THE TABLE’: Carney ‘will never discuss’ supply management, Digital Services Tax.Parliament on June 17 passed Bloc Bill C-202, An Act To Amend the Department of Foreign Affairs Act.It states cabinet “must not make any commitment on behalf of the Government of Canada by international trade treaty or agreement” that would alter quotas for dairy, eggs or poultry.“Of course a law can be changed by another law,” said Blanchet.“Of course it’s a matter of policy. But each and every member of this Parliament has voted in favour of supply management and protected it with a law.”“I don’t see, whatever great strategic experts say, how politically – and I know a little bit about politics – the Prime Minister could change his mind and support a bill that would go against supply management.”“I don’t see this happening. I don’t see how this could happen.”.WATCH: ‘DAIRY CARTEL’ — Bernier issues message to Trump on resolving trade war.Blanchet noted the prime minister has not disclosed any details of ongoing tariff negotiations with the United States.“If we knew anything about the strategy we might understand it,” he said.“But we are so far being kept in the dark.”President Donald Trump has repeatedly targeted dairy quotas as unfair.“They have charged our farmers as much as 400% for years on dairy products,” he said June 27..Poilievre confirms he will never cancel controversial dairy supply management.The Department of Agriculture counts 9,403 dairy quota holders. Most are in Québec. Dairy products have been sold under quota since 1972.The Conference Board of Canada, in a 2014 report, estimated dairy farmers each had an average net worth of $2.76 million, operated with a 23% margin and used quotas that cost consumers $2.6 billion a year.“The policy is questioned on equity grounds because dairy farmers are generally wealthier than the average Canadian,” said the report.“The policy effectively transfers resources from poorer Canadians to wealthier Canadians.”Canada has some 80 federal and provincial boards regulating the production and sale of food including British Columbia turkeys, Manitoba honey, Ontario apples, Québec maple syrup and Prince Edward Island potatoes..UPDATED: Alberta at odds with Quebec in willingness to kill dairy cartel
