Free Trade for Maple Syrup

Maxime Bernier commits to maple syrup free trade: inside Canada and outside

September 6, 2016 For Immediate Release

Ottawa – Maxime Bernier, candidate for the leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada today called upon the Trudeau government to repeal the Quebec Maple Sap and Maple Syrup Order. If elected Conservative leader and Prime Minister, Bernier has pledged to fight to allow all Canadian maple syrup producers to export their syrup to other provinces and international markets freely. 

Bernier was accompanied by Angèle Grenier, a maple syrup producer from Beauce, Quebec. Ms. Grenier wants to bring before the Supreme Court of Canada a dispute with the Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers (FPAQ).

In Quebec, a monopolistic system of compulsory membership marketing allows the FPAQ to act as the cartel of maple syrup. A recent report commissioned by the Quebec Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food described the Federation as “the OPEC of maple syrup.” FPAQ operates in a similar fashion to the old Canadian Wheat Board and the current Supply Management system for dairy, egg, and poultry products.

Article 121 of the Canadian Constitution guarantees free trade between provinces. Bernier believes the Canadian Government should protect the Constitution and ensure that all Canadians can trade freely across provincial borders.

Key Bernier Quotes:

“Just as supply management in dairy, egg, poultry products be abolished, just as the old Canadian Wheat Board was wisely abolished, the maple syrup cartel must also be abolished. It is the opposite of a free market.”

“Ms. Grenier merely wants her constitutional rights respected to sell her maple syrup to whom she wishes freely. As I said two weeks ago, the Constitution is clear: We have a right to free trade between provinces. I call upon the Trudeau government to uphold the Constitution.”

“The Canadian Government should be the protector of the Canadian Constitution by respecting and fighting for the constitutional rights of Canadians to trade without barriers within Canada. We must bring back the freedom to produce and trade maple syrup.”