Dairy Farmers of Canada, or DFC, is the national policy, lobbying and promotional organization representing Canada’s farmers living on 11,000 dairy farms. DFC strives to create stable conditions for the Canadian dairy industry, today and in the future. Our objective is to maintain policies that foster the viability of Canadian dairy farms and to promote dairy products and their health benefits.
The Canadian dairy sector is a consistent positive contributor to Canada's economic stability. In 2015, the sector’s economic contributions amounted to $19.9 billion towards Canada’s GDP, and $3.8 billion in tax revenues. In addition, the dairy sector sustains approximately 221,000 jobs in Canada, while providing Canadians with fresh, high-quality and nutritious products without any of the direct government subsidies provided in other jurisdictions.
In its project entitled A Food Policy for Canada, the government of Canada highlighted four pillars. The pillars are to increase access to affordable food; improve health and food safety; conserve our soil, water, and air; and grow more high-quality food.
While DFC supports the development of a national food policy, it's important to ensure coherence among the four pillars. For example, the first pillar, which aims to increase access to affordable food, could easily be in conflict with the fourth pillar, which aims to grow more quality food. While farmers remain committed to efficiently producing high-quality food, their capacity to do so affordably can be limited by many factors, including their costs of production. Ensuring that all Canadians have access to affordable food is something that all farmers take to heart. However, it’s also a complex socioeconomic issue. Canadian farmers have always been willing to do their part in this regard, but it can’t be their responsibility alone.
The development of A Food Policy for Canada presents a unique opportunity to establish a dialogue and find common ground across a diversity of stakeholders. As such, the consultations undertaken by the government are important to clarify the values, principles and objectives of a national food policy. This requires government departments, industry and other non-governmental associations to work together to identify specific targets, actions and priorities. While it’s important to give stakeholders from across the spectrum a platform in these discussions, DFC urges the government to afford special consideration to the expertise that agricultural stakeholders hold in the production of food. This ensures that any food policy reflects the realities of the agricultural sector.
A national food policy should be based on a vision shared by all government departments and explicitly stated in their respective mandates. DFC strongly supports a whole-of-government approach, including the participation of the federal, provincial and municipal levels of government. Furthermore, collaboration between government departments and the harmonization of priorities will be vital. It will be equally important to ensure that all sectors are well-represented, and that the role and responsibilities of the agricultural sector are well-considered and clearly defined.
Finally, scientific principles and data are essential to establishing a common understanding of the concepts among all the parties concerned. The national food policy should include a science-based analysis of Canada’s strengths and opportunities. This approach will allow the Canadian agri-food sector to quantify its strengths, define future innovation and, subsequently, to better communicate its own reality to Canadians consumers.
I would end this presentation by adding that DFC is supportive of the broad goals of A Food Policy For Canada. We were also pleased to see the Canadian government identify agriculture as an economic driver and area for growth. However, there are other policies currently under consideration that could put the sector at risk. These include the government’s new proposed taxes; the proposed removal of dairy products as a category in the Canada Food Guide; and the consideration being given by Health Canada to demonizing our healthy dairy products by characterizing them as unhealthy, and branding them with labels designed to warn consumers away.
Canadian dairy farmers want to do their part to support positive strategies such as A Food Policy For Canada. However, it’s hard not to be distracted by the challenges we face in the current climate. We certainly continue to appreciate the government’s support in the international arena through ongoing challenges, such as the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA.
However, we want to remind the government that Canada’s domestic policies are completely within its control.
Thank you for your time.