Prescott-Russell-Cumberland federal Liberal candidate Giovanna Mingarelli is emphasizing her support for supply management in agriculture.

Supply management systems are used in the dairy, poultry, and egg production sectors in Canadian agriculture.

Farmers in supply-managed sectors purchase a quota or share which allows their farm to produce a set quantity of milk, poultry, or eggs for market.

According to a press release issued by the campaign, Mingarelli, who was raised in the riding and comes from a family of fifth generation farmers, has visited several dairy and poultry farms during the campaign and met with numerous businesses that rely on agriculture for their livelihood.

“I care about our farmers, and they need to be protected from Trump’s trade threats. Supply management is a system that ensures food security for our country. We should be proud and promote it,” Mingarelli said during a recent visit with farmers at Gillette Farms.

“A Mark Carney-led government will fight fiercely to protect our supply management system from Trump trade threats,” she emphasized.

The press release said supply management ensures fair prices for farmers by controlling the supply of dairy, poultry and eggs and keeping low-priced imports from being dumped into the Canadian market, which would threaten the livelihood of Canadian farmers.

U.S. President Donald Trump has called Canada’s supply management system unfair to   American farmers and has threatened tariffs on dairy products.

Liberal Leader Mark Carney has called supply management part of Canada’s economic sovereignty and said it is simply not up for negotiation.

Mingarelli has said a Liberal government would also: 

● Invest in Business Risk Management programs that farmers depend on when natural disasters hit and crop prices plummet;

● Increase help for farmers to buy new, more efficient farm equipment

● Invest $200 million for food processing.  

In the campaign press release, Mingarelli said the last time the Conservatives were in power, they cut the agriculture budget, including the Business Risk Management Program. She said the Liberals have since increased that budget by 25 percent.