As the second-largest food processing industry in Canada, dairy processing contributes more than $14 billion annually to Canada's national economy.
Dairy processors directly employ over 24,000 Canadians in 471 facilities across the country, with a payroll of $1.2 billion. Our industry is a major employer in rural and urban communities and provides good jobs for middle-class Canadians.
Canadian processors have invested approximately $7.5 billion over the past decade. This includes capital investments to expand and modernize existing facilities or to build new ones to support increased production, and research and development to stimulate innovation and bring new products to market.
Dairy processors are committed to continuing to invest in a dynamic industry to support Canadian jobs and the Canadian economy. However, recent trade agreements threaten to curtail this growth and reduce the long-term competitiveness of the Canadian dairy processing industry.