Mr. Speaker, the federal government denies through its actions having given verbal support for maintaining the supply management system.
When the Minister for International Trade issues import permits for additional breaded cheese sticks above the negotiated tariff quota, he is working against dairy producers, who asked him to stop issuing these permits.
Dairy producers do not think the federal government is honouring its commitment to defend and maintain supply management. They criticize the federal government's refusal to protect rights it enjoys under the WTO.
They also want the Minister for International Trade to stop discussions with the states on reciprocal cheese stick access, which were initiated without the consultation of dairy producers in Canada.
The Minister for International Trade represents a riding in Quebec which leads in Canada's dairy production, a fine example of the erratic defence of Quebec's interests by a federal minister from Quebec.