David Tilson, M.P. for Dufferin-Caledon, has announced that the federal government will be launching an immediate action under Article 28 of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) to restrict imports of milk protein concentrates (MPC), in response to dairy farmers' concerns about the increasing use of these concentrates in making cheese and other dairy products in Canada.

"During the last federal election, Canadians voted for change and that included changes in agriculture," said Mr. Tilson.

"Once again, this Government is taking action by standing up for its farmers and addressing the challenges facing them."

He said the government will also be launching a regulatory process on compositional standards for cheese.

"This is very good news for Canadian dairy producers," said Bob Friesen, Canadian Federation of Agriculture president. "And more than that it shows this government is still strongly committed to measures that support our vital marketing tools like supply management."

Jacques Laforge, president of the Dairy Farmers of Canada, also recognized that the actions showed the government's support for supply management. "There should be no doubt in producers' minds about this government's support for supply management," he said, adding that it was "good news for farmers."

Chuck Strahl, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, invited the Dairy Farmers of Canada and the Dairy Processors Association of Canada to form a working group last April to develop a strategy for the long-term growth and prosperity of the sector. Unfortunately, 10 months later, the working group has failed to reach a consensus.

"I made it clear to milk producers and processors that our government would act," the minister said. "With this step, we are delivering on our commitment to the dairy industry and supply management."