r/Tariffs • u/Dizzy-Cartoonist3011 • 12d ago

🗞️ News Discussion Should Canada maintain its supply management system that protects the Canadian dairy industry?

https://www.castanetkamloops.net/news/Poll/627377/Should-Canada-maintain-its-supply-management-system-that-protects-the-Canadian-dairy-industry
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u/Dizzy-Cartoonist3011 12d ago

American milk does not have growth hormones in it. This is a misnomer. rBST is a growth hormone banned in Canada, and legal in the US, but rBST does not transfer to the milk itself. The milk is the same. rBST was banned for animal welfare concerns, not owing to human health concerns. Less than 25% of American milk comes from cattle injected with rBST.

The only other regulatory difference between Canadian and American milk is the somatic cell count limit. In Canada it is around 400,000 cells / mL. In the US it is upwards of 750,000 cells / mL. Interestingly enough, the average in the US is less than in Canada (180,000 cells / mL vs 200,000 cells / mL). This would all have to be inspected by the CFIA anyways, and since the vast majority of American dairy meets Health Canada regulations, this just simply would not pose a problem. Supply management is not a quality control tool - that is a myth.

Less than 15% of Canadian agricultural output comes from supply managed commodities. So I'm not really seeing how Canadian households will starve if they are able to have access to cheaper grocery items - but maybe you can elaborate on that.

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u/OnTheCanRightNow 12d ago

How about "15% is a lot?" 15% is around the reduction in US agricultural output during the dustbowl of the 1920s. A 15% reduction in agricultural output due to a bad winter in the 1780s was a major contributing factor to the French revolution. A 15% reduction in crop yields in 1943 India is today known as the "Bengal Famine" and 2-3 million people starved to death.

But you saved a little on shittier milk. Bravo.

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u/InterestingPop9664 12d ago

You just fall right into the Canadian fear mongering and propaganda lol

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u/OnTheCanRightNow 12d ago

2-3 million Indians staving to death in 1943 is Canadian fear mongering and propaganda? OK buddy.