Canadian Pizza Magazine

Restaurants Canada calls on federal government to be a full participant in current Trans-Pacific Partnership Free Trade Agreement (TPP) negotiations

By Canadian Pizza   

News free trade restaurants canada supply management TPP

Toronto – Restaurants Canada president Donna Dooher is urging the federal government to consider revamping the supply management system in tandem with its participation in ongoing Trans-Pacific Partnership Free Trade Agreement talks.

Dooher’s open letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper reads as follows:

Dear Prime Minister:

As we wrote you in 2012 when Canada was invited to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership Free Trade Agreement (TPP), “this agreement presents tremendous opportunities for Canada that we can’t afford to miss.”  

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We are still of that opinion.  

The Asia-Pacific region is the world’s fastest growing economic region, with rapidly developing disposable income and a desire for imported goods, including foodstuffs. Many of our leading trade partners are already succeeding in opening new markets for their manufacturers and service providers in these countries. Canada cannot be left behind.

Much media commentary has suggested Canada’s supply management system is hampering our nation’s ability to sign a deal. Restaurants Canada urges the government not to let the 10 per cent of farmers who benefit from supply management to hold back the 90 per cent of Canadian farmers who want more access to global markets.  

The restaurant industry relies on Canada’s dairy and poultry sectors, has a vested interest in promoting their future growth, and also ensuring our industry has a reliable and competitive domestic supply source. We annually buy some $5 billion in supply management products, and would purchase more if prices, along with other factors, were more economically viable.    

Supply management is sorely in need of modernization. We call on Canada to fully participate in the TPP negotiations, and hope the action will serve as the catalyst to a careful consideration of the continued relevance of supply management, and begin the transition of these key industries to a more rational economic basis.  

Yours sincerely,

Donna Dooher, President and CEO  


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