Manitoba's agriculture minister says the provincial government is supportive of the continuing negotiations of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, but says there needs to be a true understanding about how the details could affect the dairy industry and supply management.
Ron Kostyshyn says until some details of the partnership are officially revealed, the province's position remains fairly straight forward.
"We felt as government that we need to say that supply management is very key. The other thing that's very key is that it's locally produced food and it provides a $500 million economic drive to the province of Manitoba and also an added value of opportunities."
Kostyshyn says it's important that Canada joining the deal doesn't negatively impact rural economic growth in the province.
"It's very substantial that we tend not to lose focus on the importance of what we have through a number of agriculture industries and supply management being one of many. I just want to resonate the importance of our position from the province of Manitoba."
Kostyshyn calls the dairy industry a beneficial part of Manitoba's rural economy.
