Advocacy
What is the nature of CADA's advocacy work?
Canadian Artisan Dairy Alliance was formed to give Canadian consumer who want legal access to raw milk and milk products, a collective voice. Through educating law makers and other stakeholders we are working to have our laws updated so safe, legal raw milk is available in Canada. The laws are complicated, inconsistent and designed to not only prevent food borne illness, but also to prevent raw milk farmers from competing with supply managed quota holding dairy farmers and milk processors (i.e. the commercial dairy industry).
Many in the dairy industry and public health, who are invested in the maintenance of the status quo, oppose legalization. The Canadian dairy industry has actively worked to prevent our access to safe, legal raw milk. The Dairy Farmers of Canada lobbied to get the 1991 federal ban in place and in 2020 the Dairy Farmers of Ontario intervened in charter challenge brought raw milk consumers in Ontario Affleck et a vs. AG of Ontario . The Dairy Farmers of Canada are often described as 'the most powerful lobby group in Canada'. We hope to convince commercial dairy farmers and public health officials that legalizing raw milk can help them achieve their goals as well. For the dairy farmers there is a huge untapped market of urban consumers who are looking for raw dairy but are unable to connect with local farmers that are willing to sell milk to them in the existing underground market. The dairy market can be expanded with this new high in demanded product. For public health officials, legalization with appropriate regulation, allows them to educate both consumers and producers about the associated risks and steps that can be taken to minimize the risk. Banning raw milk has only driven consumers and producers underground and made raw dairy riskier than it would otherwise be.
Our best chance of getting our laws changed is through the support of elected officials. We know of several provincial and federal elected officials who themselves consume raw milk. Others will agree that the people they represent should be free to decide for themselves whether the risk is worth the benefits, to them. We are, after all, free to consumer nicotine, alcohol, cannabis and ultra processed foods which we know cause significant harms to our health, and society as a whole, but have no or negligible offsetting benefits. If public health is so concerned about consumers making poor health choices, why are these products not banned?
Advocacy must take place at the Federal level and in each province. Our organization is working towards connecting with federal MPs, provincial MLAs/MPPs and Ministers in both levels of government, to make our case for legalization with appropriate safety regulation. You can help, by sending an email to your provincial and federal member of parliament or legislature as well as the Ministers responsible for raw milk laws that apply to you. You can use this model email wording as a starting point but if you are hoping for a response, make it personal. Tell the elected official why raw milk is important to you, and why you want it legalized.
Below is some background and the status of current advocacy work, where we have it available. Included are the names and email addresses of the Ministers and how you can find your federal MP and MLA/MPP.
Federal
Since 1991, the federal Food and Drug Regulation under the Food and Drugs Act has prohibited the sale and distribution of raw milk in Canada. For many years, Canadians have asked Health Canada to reconsider this ban on unprocessed dairy. Letters from individual citizens, a 2016 federal petition read in Parliament, and inquiries by elected officials have all met with the same answer: Raw milk is too dangerous based on evidence of outbreaks in other jurisdictions.
In 2020 in response to a verbal inquiry from an MP on behalf of a constituent, a Health Canada official stated that no province had ever requested a change to the raw milk ban. Therefore, as part of its provincial lobbying efforts, CADA is asking provincial officials to tell Health Canada they do wish the federal ban to be lifted so provinces may regulate raw milk production and distribution themselves.
In July 2023, with the help of two federal MPs (Nathaniel Erskine-Smith and Julie Dabrusin), CADA provided a package of information about the health benefits and safe production methods of raw dairy to the offices of newly appointed Minister MacAulay (Agriculture and Agri-Food) and Minister Holland (Health). On December 8, 2023, CADA representatives met with a food safety policy advisor in the Minister's office. They were very interested and receptive to the information we shared and said they would help facilitate a meeting with the appropriate food safety advisor within Health Canada. As of March, 2024, we are waiting to hear when this meeting will take place.
If you are a constituent in the ridings of Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister MacAulay (Cardigan, Prince Edward Island) or Health Minister Holland (Ajax, Ontario), we need your help! Please volunteer to help us get the attention of these Ministers.
Alberta
In Alberta, the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation is responsible for regulating and enforcing milk laws. The most recent enforcement action that we are aware of occurred in 2018 and resulted in a legal case that was subsequently dropped by the government without going to trial. Details of this case can be found here: https://www.realmilk.com/david-rand-alberta-canada/. We are not aware of any more recent enforcement actions in Alberta.
On March 7, 2023, the Canadian Artisan Dairy Alliance (CADA) met with the then Alberta Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, Nate Horner, and presented current information about the health benefits and safe production methods of raw milk in support of our request for its legalization. Minister Horner directed the Food Services Branch to review research and legislation regarding the safe distribution of raw milk and its products. The new Minister, RJ Sigurdson, confirmed on August 14, 2023 that the Food Services Branch review is ongoing and that he would be happy to meet with CADA once it is completed.
Express your support for the legalization of safe raw milk in Alberta by contacting Minister Minister Sigurdson at AGRIC.Minister@gov.ab.ca. Tell him why you want raw milk and that you are pleased his Food Services Branch is seriously considering legalization. Please copy us and your MLA on your email. You can find your MLA by postal code here: https://www.assembly.ab.ca/.
Adding your voice will help make a difference!
British Columbia
Consumers in BC have been lobbying for legalization for over 20 years. The BC Herdshare Association (BCHA) incorporated in 2014 to carry on this advocacy work and met with representatives of the BC government. BCHA sent letters in February 2023 to request meetings with the Minister of Health, Adrian Dix, and the new Minister of Agriculture, Pam Alexis. Neither responded. On February 23, 2023, CADA sent an email to both Ministers to share current information about raw milk safety, health benefits and laws in other jurisdictions. We asked for a meeting with the Ministers and are awaiting a response.
Express your support for the legalization of safe raw milk in British Columbia by contacting Minister Dix at HLTH.Minister@gov.bc.ca and Minister Alexis at AF.Minister@gov.bc.ca .
Tell them why you want raw milk and that you would like them to consider the new information that has become available in the last decade regarding raw milk health benefits and safety. Point out that penalties for selling raw milk of up to $3 million or 3 years in jail makes no sense, when you can buy raw milk at the grocery store in Washington State. Please copy us and your MLA on your email. You can find your MLA by postal code here: Find my MLA (leg.bc.ca).
Manitoba
CADA is looking for a volunteers from this province that would like to help with lobbying the provincial ministers. Want to support this effort? Become a volunteer!
New Brunswick
In September 2023, the Canadian Artisan Dairy Alliance (CADA) submitted a package of information on the health and safety of raw milk to the New Brunswick Minister of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries, namely, the Honourable Margaret Johnson. In her response, Minister Johnson advised that regulations regarding pasteurization fall under the Minister of Health. On October 23rd, local advocates met with Minister Johnson who agreed to arrange a meeting with the NB Minister of Health, Bruce Fitch, to discuss raw milk health and safety. We are waiting for news of when this meeting will take place.
Express your support for the legalization of safe raw milk in New Brunswick by contacting Minister Johnson at Margaret.Johnson@gnb.ca and Minister Fitch at Bruce.Fitch@gnb.ca.
Tell them why you want raw milk and that you would like them to consider the information regarding raw milk health benefits and safety that has become available in the last decade. Point out that not only do these laws hurt consumers, they also hurt farmers. Currently consumers from New Brunswick can buy raw milk at the grocery store in Main and bring it back legally. Our own farmers are shut out of this artisanal food market. This makes no sense. Please copy us and your MLA on your email. You can find your MLA here: Members of - Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick (legnb.ca) .
Newfoundland & Labrador
CADA is still awaiting an official response from this region. Want to support this effort? Become a volunteer!
Nova Scotia
CADA is looking for a volunteers from this province that would like to help with lobbying the provincial ministers. Want to support this effort? Become a volunteer!
Ontario
Ontario raw milk farmers and consumers have been fighting the ban on raw milk in the Ontario court system for many years. Several farmers have been charged, convicted or just settled under the offense of 'operating and illegal milk processing plant'. No charges have been brought based on food safety concerns. Do you know an MPP who can help us get a meeting with the Minister or Health or the Minister of Agriculture? Become a volunteer!
Price Edward Island
CADA is looking for a volunteers from Prince Edward Island that would like to help with lobbying the provincial ministers.
Also, the federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister, Hon. Lawrence MacAulay (Cardigan, Prince Edward Island) is from your province. We would like to meet with him.
Can you help at the federal or provincial level? Become a volunteer!
Quebec
CADA is looking for a volunteers from Quebec that would like to help with lobbying the provincial ministers. Want to support this effort? Become a volunteer!
Vous souhaitez soutenir cet effort? Devenez bénévole!
Northwest Territories
CADA is looking for a volunteers from NWT that would like to help with lobbying in this region. Want to support this effort? Become a volunteer!
Nunavut
CADA is looking for a volunteers from Nunavut that would like to help with lobbying in this region. Want to support this effort? Become a volunteer!
Yukon
CADA is looking for a volunteers from Yukon that would like to help with lobbying in this region.. Want to support this effort? Become a volunteer!
Saskatchewan
CADA is looking for a volunteers from Saskatchewan that would like to help with lobbying the provincial ministers. Want to help? Become a volunteer!