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2019 Canadian Federal Election - general discussion


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#2741 jonny

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Posted 12 June 2018 - 11:33 AM

It probably costs us jobs, too. There's no reason we couldn't be a global dairy giant, with our massive amount of arable land and access to US, EU and Asian markets. 



#2742 Mike K.

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Posted 12 June 2018 - 11:34 AM

Canadian supply management of dairy is beyond ridiculous. We basically operate as a commie command economy where the dairy cartel gets to set production quotas to keep prices artificially high in this one tiny sector for Quebecois political reasons. It's really quite insane. We don't do that for wheat, oats, meat, seafood, carrots, beans or anything else. Just dairy. What a bizarre oddity. 

 

And yet during a segment on CFAX today a rep of the Canadian dairy group says American dairy farmers want to emulate Canada's supply management system.


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#2743 jonny

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Posted 12 June 2018 - 11:34 AM

There might be merit behind the idea of revisiting the concept of a dairy board but it sure as hell would be crazy to do it because Trump had a tantrum and ordered us to do it.

 

That's why I say we missed an opportunity. We've staked our claim and would like like meek, spineless weenies if we capitulated now. 



#2744 jonny

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Posted 12 June 2018 - 11:35 AM

And yet during a segment on CFAX today a rep of the Canadian dairy group says American dairy farmers want to emulate Canada's supply management system.

 

Well, wouldn't you want to run a business that was guaranteed to be profitable? 



#2745 lanforod

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Posted 12 June 2018 - 02:03 PM

I lean more towards the dairy farmers on this one. Have a read, see if this gives you some perspective: https://www.facebook...26591677503852 



#2746 Mike K.

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Posted 12 June 2018 - 02:05 PM

Wowzers. 300% tariff to import dairy into Canada?

Here’s that post:

Trade war. Sounds scary. And it is. As a Canadian dairy farmer, my farm and family is directly in the crosshairs in this fight. That cold sick feeling in the pit of our stomachs has returned yet again as we wait to hear what the future holds for us. Will we survive this latest attack on our livelihood? Will scenes like this soon only be a memory in rural Canada?

President Trump’s latest tirade against our country’s dairy supply management system and his demands to dismantle said system are frankly quite frightening. But what is most frustrating is the lack of background or real facts in his claims of unfair trade practices in dairy between the US in Canada.

Supply management means that our Canadian dairy farms produce enough milk for Canadian consumers. In order to keep this balance between demand and supply, our government has trade barriers in place in the form of tariffs on dairy imports. Foreign countries are able to import milk to Canada, but they will be charged a high tariff (up to 300%). This cost is often prohibitive to imports and so Canadian processors usually rely on domestic dairy supply. But... Canada does allow some tariff free imports - about 10%. This percentage has been increasing in recent years; CETA and the new TPP have whittled away a sizeable chunk of our dairy market. But get this: this 10% is more than double the amount that the USA allows. Say what??? Yes, you read that correctly. The US caps tariff free imports at about 2.75%. So, the US ALSO protects their dairy industry. Ironic, huh? Yet, President Trump has attacked our system. You see, American dairy farmers are in dire straits. They produce much much more milk than is needed in the States and export a rather significant percentage to other countries, Canada included. The global dairy market is saturated, there’s simply too much milk. This has driven the price paid to American farmers below the cost of production, pushing many farms out of business. It’s understandable then that Trump would look for ways to alleviate these problems. But expecting entirely free dairy trade with Canada to fix this problem is ludicrous. With a population 1/10th the size of the States’, our market is too small to make a very significant dent in their current surplus. Wisconsin alone produces more milk than all Canadian farms combined. The US needs to manage their own issues with over supply rather than expecting us to fix their problems. Our own farmers do a fine job of supplying our citizens with dairy products, thank you very much.

And if the border were opened, what would be the cost? Our current system ensures a fair price paid to farmers that covers the cost of production. American dairy farms are already producing milk at a loss, and Canadian farms would soon follow suit. Small farms unable to compete with the economies of scale present on mega dairies with tens of thousands of cows would be the first to go. Farms like ours. Family farms. Our rural fabric would be forever changed. Is that what Canadians want?

If you want the dairy products you enjoy to be produced on Canadian farms, under the strictest animal welfare, milk quality and food safety standards in the world, it’s time to speak up. Let your elected officials know that your Canadian dairy products and dairy farmers are important to you. Reach out to your MP. Send an email to the Prime Minister’s office. Do anything you can to encourage our government to stand firm, to not give in to Trump’s bullying tactics. If they don’t, this photo may one day be one of the only reminders of the farms that used to dot our countryside. Let’s work together to make sure that doesn’t happen.

***Edited to add: I know there are a lot of big and sensitive emotions triggered by these events. But let’s try to be civil with each other and refrain from ad hominem attacks and profanity. We’re all adults capable of civility, aren’t we? Thanks!
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#2747 Mike K.

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Posted 12 June 2018 - 02:08 PM

What really irks me is our own government just tried to introduce “tariffs” on small business owners in this country. If you’re self employed the government had you in their crosshairs for more taxes. They’ve since backed off a little but it wasn’t without one heck of a fight and the realization that many business people would shift their focus away from Canada (and that includes doctors).

Now that a beloved industry is concerned, an industry with heaps of lobbying dollars and enjoyment of government protection, suddenly the narrative is that its “scary” or unfair.

Well, say hello to what hundreds of thousands of Canadians (maybe even a million or more?), not just dairy farmers, were and still are dealing with at the hands of our very own Prime Minister.

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#2748 lanforod

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Posted 12 June 2018 - 02:10 PM

It varies, depending on the product. 241% for over quota milk.

Canada allows 10% in tarriff free and the US allows 2.75% in tariff free... um, there is something wrong with that picture.

 

Canada imports twice as much dairy from the US as we export to them; so... 

 

The only reason Trump is going after this is because he's got farmers complaining they can't sell their milk cuz they're making too much of it. We don't make too much of it here because of the supply management setup!



#2749 Mike K.

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Posted 12 June 2018 - 02:28 PM

Where’s our leverage? Maybe we actually don’t have any and the powers at the top know this day was coming and that it would come with a really, really bad headache.

The conspiratorial side of me wants to believe that this sudden shock and about face over America’s tariffs is all just a show in the hopes that by making a big deal out of how Canada is being mistreated that it drives our dollar down, making trade with Canada an irresistible proposition for American firms.

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#2750 rmpeers

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Posted 12 June 2018 - 03:00 PM

Trump, however, doubles down today:


Classic. When Trudeau made a statement on TV, thinking Trump would never find out, he underestimated the president's incredible investigative skills.

#2751 Casual Kev

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Posted 12 June 2018 - 05:20 PM

Doubt it would've been different with Harper up there, Trump would've just gotten pissy faster in the face of someone who has a deep understand of economics and who wouldn't try to charm a fragile ego. All that matters to Trump is what his fans and his cronies say about him; he will do anything to flatter them and sadly he has the power of the world's strongest nation to do it.

#2752 tjv

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Posted 12 June 2018 - 06:24 PM

I thought this article was pretty good

 

https://www.theglobe...rticle34802291/

 

I don't see any problem importing US milk and other dairy products and just adding another brand on the shelf.  The choice is still there and if you want Canadian milk it will be available right next to the US brand.  At the same time Mexican milk should be given equal shot in the USA and even in Canada if they feel it will sell.



#2753 LJ

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Posted 12 June 2018 - 07:20 PM

Right. Dairy is by far the largest, though. 

 

Why not grain? Beef? Pork? 

 

Why don't we supply manage restaurants? If we had restaurant quotas, we could provide predictable and stable incomes to restaurant workers! 

There was a wheat board until 6 years ago, but that affects the prairies, not Quebec. There is a also a maple syrup board that tells you what you can produce and you can only sell to them. Those French folks like that socialist stuff.


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#2754 jonny

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Posted 13 June 2018 - 07:58 AM

Scheer has kicked Bernier out of the Conservative shadow cabinet. No explanation was given by Scheer. 

 

The bitterness between these two festers. 

 

Scheer narrowly beat out Bernier in last year's leadership contest. 

 

Despite losing the leadership race, Bernier has seemingly been campaigning to replace Scheer.  

 

Bernier has subsequently claimed that Scheer bought votes via his ardent support for our country's supply management regimes (probably true). 

 

Bernier has consistently railed against supply management in this country since his defeat in the leadership race, in opposition to Scheer's strong support for dairy and poultry supply management. 



#2755 jonny

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Posted 13 June 2018 - 08:02 AM

There was a wheat board until 6 years ago, but that affects the prairies, not Quebec. There is a also a maple syrup board that tells you what you can produce and you can only sell to them. Those French folks like that socialist stuff.

 

IIRC, the wheat board was much different than dairy and poultry supply management. 

 

Back in the wheat board days, farmers were required by law to sell their wheat and barley to the wheat board and the wheat board only. They could not sell to any other buyer. The wheat board then "marketed" our wheat and barley to domestic and foreign buyers. 



#2756 Wayne

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Posted 29 June 2018 - 05:25 PM

Ketchup? That will show them.

Seriously, not a tit for tat we could win.

http://www.msn.com/e...b9&ocid=DELLDHP

#2757 tjv

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Posted 30 June 2018 - 08:29 AM

^Not that I support Trudeau, but I believe he is putting tariffs on items that won't affect Canadians because there are Canadian made alternatives

 

It's not like Trump's duties on lumber which has increased US housing construction costs something like 7,000 per house



#2758 Cats4Hire

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Posted 30 June 2018 - 08:34 AM

^Not that I support Trudeau, but I believe he is putting tariffs on items that won't affect Canadians because there are Canadian made alternatives

 

It's not like Trump's duties on lumber which has increased US housing construction costs something like 7,000 per house

Trusting companies to not take advantage of this saying "oh there's more demand now!" and increasing the prices anyway sounds foolish though.



#2759 sdwright.vic

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Posted 30 June 2018 - 09:40 AM

Pepsi is increasing prices because of tariffs... but Pepsi is made in Canada.
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#2760 Mattjvd

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Posted 30 June 2018 - 10:02 AM

^Not that I support Trudeau, but I believe he is putting tariffs on items that won't affect Canadians because there are Canadian made alternatives

It's not like Trump's duties on lumber which has increased US housing construction costs something like 7,000 per house


He's also targeting products made in States/districts of prominant Republicans who support the tariffs.

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