​​​​​​​​​​​Winnipeg, Manitoba  --  Yesterday’s panel ruling under Canada’s Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) will provide canola-based dairy alternatives with access to the Quebec market and create new opportunities for processing and marketing of Canadian-grown canola.

A dispute resolution panel, established under the AIT, determined that certain sections of Quebec’s Food Products Act restrict the production, sale and marketing of vegetable oil-based dairy alternatives in the province and contravene the country’s internal trade rules.

“Until now, canola and other oilseed-based dairy alternatives faced significant barriers to entering the Quebec market,” says Rick White, CEO of the Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA). “We are pleased that the Government of Saskatchewan, supported by the Governments of Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia, initiated this challenge.” 

CCGA has been fully supportive of this challenge. “Canola farmers believe that eliminating trade barriers, whether export or domestic, is vital to the success of our farms,” says White.

Quebec has served notice that it will appeal the panel’s decision.  A ruling on similar restrictions in Ontario has been upheld since a successful challenge in 2011.

CCGA represents more than 43,000 canola farmers on national and international issues, policies and programs that impact farm profitability and is a member of the Vegetable Oil Industry of Canada.

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Contact:
Kelly Green
Director, Communications
Phone: 204.789.8821
E-mail: kellyg@ccga.ca​