Tractors, cattle on Ottawa streets as farmers express trade talk fears

OTTAWA – Dairy farmers parked tractors at the foot of Parliament Hill, walked cows through downtown Ottawa and dumped milk on the pavement Tuesday to protest what they say is a looming trade deal that threatens their way of life.

Farmers in Ontario and Quebec fear that the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a massive 12-country trade deal that’s said to be near an agreement in principle, could spell the end of the supply management system that keeps their operations profitable.

Police officers stood watch as dozens of tractors snarled traffic along Wellington Street in front of the Parliament Buildings, while some farmers led cows down the street and others splashed milk on the pavement.

Robbie Beck, a farmer in Shawville, Que., brought his dairy cow Lea to the protest in Ottawa.

Beck said he believes the Conservative government’s approach to supply management could ultimately cost votes in key rural ridings — particularly in eastern Ontario and Quebec — when voters head to the polls Oct. 19.

“I’m a small-c conservative thinker, that’s probably the natural home for my vote,” Beck said.

“I’m with the Harper government on nearly everything except trade.”

Negotiations are currently underway on the ambitious trade deal involving Canada and 11 other countries. Sources say an agreement in principle could be announced as early as Friday.

Farmers fear the federal government will make concessions on supply management, a system of production limits and import tariffs that shields the dairy market from competition at the hands of foreign producers.

“We just want a decent price for decent work, that’s it,” said Quebec farmer Peter Strebel, who came from his home south of Montreal to participate in the protest.

The U.S. has been pushing for Canada to loosen its tariff regime, but the federal government insists it will protect Canadian interests at the negotiating table.

“This government remains absolutely committed to making sure we preserve our system of supply management through trade negotiations,” Conservative Leader Stephen Harper said Tuesday.

Not everyone is convinced. Harper’s rivals remain suspicious that the Conservatives haven’t done enough to protect Canadian dairy producers.

The NDP’s Mathieu Ravignat, who is running for re-election in the Quebec riding of Pontiac, said supply management is the only thing that allows many small farms to exist in Quebec and across Canada.

“We have to be shoulder-to-shoulder with our farmers, support their livelihood,” said Ravignat, who was on hand at Tuesday’s protest.

“That’s why I’m here today.”

Francis Drouin, the Liberal candidate for the eastern Ontario riding of Glengarry-Prescott-Russell, was also on hand for Tuesday’s protest.

“They’re scared right now of the potential impacts of TPP,” Drouin said of the farmers. “Why is Stephen Harper not able to protect supply management?”

The Tories haven’t been vocal about the issue on the campaign trail, he added.

“The saddest thing is that none of the rural Conservative MPs across Canada are speaking out against this,” Drouin said.

“They’ve heard loud and clear from all of their constituents who want them to defend the supply management system.”

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