Supply Management

[Horse]

Do you realy feel it is right to have the price of quota built into the price of milk. Who sets the price of quota the milk producer does and why , to get the price as high as possible . The quota was handed out for free originaly I know because I was a tit puller for a good many yrs. There was app 15 producers in our area mnilking 25 to 40 cows and all making a good living then came the greedys and away it all went for shit. Now thete isnt a milk barn for at least 25 mi and 150 is probaply small in no of cows milked.

[ASRG]

Personally I'm old enough to remember "pre-Supply Management" and what that meant? My Dad always kept some dairy cows (anywhere from 6-12) and sold cream. I think the best thing that ever happened was the day those "magpies" went down the road! I think my sisters would agree (we never owned a milking machine)!
The point here is: the government, in their infinite wisdom, decided this was the way to go, and allowed the industry to put a value on quota? Today quota is "real property", worth real money?
If the government, in their infinite wisdom, wants to eliminate or decrease the value of that "real property", they need to make that dairy farmer "whole"? Definition of "whole"- the farmer should not be out any money because his "real property" is rendered valueless by government decree or whim.
Pretty simple?

[ASRG]

Before we all get on the TPP bandwagon, we should do some research on just what it is? Who are the winners and who are the losers?

Do we realize that this so called "Trade deal" has been negotiated in secret and only in the last few days any details have been leaked? Do we realize this isn't so much about "free trade" and more about a secret deal for corporate rights and priveledges? Do we realize by signing this deal our government will be giving up it's financial and regulatory sovereignty to corporate interests?

The TPP is a blueprint for corporate governance of every aspect of your life. Don't take my word for it....do your own research.

[Happytrails]

Having a little trouble following ASRG. First he defends a system which limits the supply of food products by force of arms and then pans the TPP because it might increase government control. Confusing.

Myself I cannot support SM on principle so that is easy. As for the TPP the issues are more complex so I will have to pick a political party to trust. HT

[grassfarmer]

...and it's an awfully poor party to trust. A virtual
dictatorship that overrides democracy at every
opportunity in pursuit of furthering the agenda of
corporate dominance. People are starting to wake up
to the "Harper Government" though, maybe common
sense will prevail.

Saw this interesting comment the other day "SM is a
system that works, and is a model that the UN Special
Rapporteur on the Right to Food has recommended to
other countries as a way to ensure fairness and food
security within and between countries."

[ASRG]

HappyTrails: The TPP will actually mean less government control? The Canadian government will not be able to make policy for Canada....it will be bound by the agreement?
We won't be able to regulate things like banking, patents and intellectual property rights, social programs, environmental rules.....these type of things will have to be in compliance with the TPP. It will have to be in compliance with countries like Malaysia, Mexico, and Vietnam!
The loss of supply management will be one of the least concerns?
The government can deal with that problem.....probably in court.
I'm a great fan of the "rule of law" and property rights.

[ASRG]

Now I'm no expert on tobacco but there is a precedent set for buying out quota?
The tobacco quota license holders were offered a buyout when the federal government decided tobacco was no longer a desirable crop?
Supposedly "Canadian" tobacco processors were able to buy somewhere else (probably at lower prices)? I don't think this resulted in lower cigarette prices....maybe the government just cranked up the taxes to reflect cheaper foreign tobacco prices?

[Horse]

Mabey they just cranked up prices? Du you think.

[ASRG]

Maybe the milk processers will too?