The view on tariffs from Ontario’s dairy country
Hi, I report live on CBC News Network. Today I’m in Oxford County, Ont., known as the cheese capital of Canada and where the commercial cheese industry was founded.
U.S. President Donald Trump has taken aim at Canada’s dairy sector and its supply management system, so we wanted to check in with dairy producers in this area.
“Definitely some anxiety about what we hear south of the border, but we have good support from our Canadian customers,” said Joe Doré, who runs a dairy farm with his family in New Dundee.
“I think it would be a lie if I said it wasn’t a worry. Dairy farmers are always worried that supply management is under attack,” he said.
What does he want to hear from Canada’s political leaders in the midst of Trump’s threats?
“We always have strong support from all the parties, and what I want is for them to follow through on that and maintain our system as it is. Let us keep making milk and supplying Canadians with what they need,” said Doré.
He said dairy farmers appreciate the “buy local” sentiment being expressed by Canadians right now.
“We work hard. We’re out here every day — our life’s work is to look after our cows,” he said. “We really appreciate the support that we do get.”
