PM says Ottawa is 'loyal' to supply management system protecting dairy sector

CHICOUTIMI — Prime Minister Mark Carney says his government is “loyal” to the supply management system protecting Canada’s dairy sector and is pointing to the Liberals’ choice of candidate in an upcoming byelection as proof of that commitment. Supply management has been cited by the U.S. as a key irritant in trade negotiations and President Donald Trump has repeatedly complained about the level of U.S.

dairy farmers’ access to Canada’s market. Taking questions from reporters Thursday after touring an aluminum facility in Saguenay, Que., Carney said the Liberals’ choice of former dairy producer Daniel Gobeil to run in the Chicoutimi-Le Fjord byelection shows the government is “loyal” to supply management. “I’ve been clear since the start of my campaign for the Liberal leadership … because I believe in supply management.

It’s important to stabilize prices for Canadian consumers and protect a way of life for small farms,” Carney said in French. Gobeil is our candidate.” Gobeil has served as the chair of the Quebec dairy producers association and as a board member for the Dairy Farmers of Canada. The Chicoutimi-Le Fjord byelection is set for Aug.

Former Conservative MP Richard Martel resigned the seat just before the summer after Carney appointed him to the Senate. Carney’s made his remarks on supply management as Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Janice Charette, chief trade negotiator, are in Washington for talks with the U.S.

That meeting comes less than two weeks before Trump is set to hit Canada with another round of tariffs on a wide range of goods. As Carney toured the aluminum plant Thursday, he spoke about the sector’s struggles in the trade war with the United States. “From the moment the United States imposed tariffs on aluminum, the price of aluminum in the United States quickly rose,” Carney told reporters in French.

“It is not a good thing for anyone. It reduces competitiveness of American businesses and it’s a challenge for our businesses.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. — With files from Émilie Bergeron in Ottawa and Thomas Laberge in Chicoutimi, Que.