The time has come to let the dairy industry die

By Letter to the Editor on November 17, 2021.

Editor:
Re: It’s time to reform the Canadian Dairy Commission (Nov. 12, 2021)
I heartily agree with this writer (Sylvain Charleboix) that the dairy industry and commission needs reform. He fails to mention other reasonable alternatives though.
We could let the dairy industry die a natural death.
* The extra costs mentioned may not be reasonable for many low income Canadians.
* Butter and cheese, are No. 3 and No. 5 on the list of the biggest generators of climate change causing greenhouse gases. (The Natural Resources Defense Council’s chart (https://www.nrdc.org/stories/shrink-your-carbon-footprint-ease-dairy).
* The consumption of dairy has been correlated to poor health outcomes including heart disease, diabetes, cancers. (Health Concerns About Dairy, pcrm.org)
* The dairy industry is inhumane towards its animals. (https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/b-c-farm-has-dairy-licence-suspended-amid-animal-cruelty-allegations-1.5653275).
The dairy industry’s 11,000 farms will share $1.75 billion over eight years. (Government of Canada Announces Compensation for Supply-Managed Dairy Producers.-Canada.ca, Aug. 16, 2019)
These subsides would be put to better use helping dairy farmers transition to alternative farming or businesses that are more ecologically sustainable, healthier for Canadians and kinder to animals.
It’s time to quit dairy!
Jane Senda
Lethbridge