Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Marie-Claude Bibeau announced Tuesday that Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has mailed letters to all dairy producers that gives them directions on how to access the second payment under the Dairy Direct Payment Program.

“Dairy production is a cornerstone of our rural regions," said Bibeau. "By sending the letters about the second compensation payment, our Government has taken an important step in providing full and fair compensation to dairy farmers. We will continue to ensure that our supply-managed producers have the tools they need to succeed for generations to come.”

Dairy farmers will receive, on the basis of their milk quota, cash payments of $468 million in 2020-21, $469 million in 2021-22, and $468 million in 2022-23. In order to receive their payments, producers must register for the program through the Canadian Dairy Commission prior to March 31, 2021.

This next step builds on the Minister’s announcement on November 28, 2020 to deliver the promised full and fair compensation valued at $1.75 billion to dairy producers for the market access concessions made under the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) over the course of four years instead of eight.

The Government of Canada is also moving forward with consultations with chicken, egg, turkey and hatchery egg sector representatives on the design of the $691 million, 10-year compensation programs, which were also announced by Minister Bibeau in November 2020. Consultations are expected to conclude early this year, and program details will be announced as soon as possible.

The government says it also remains committed to engaging the sector on full and fair compensation for the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), and to processors of supply managed products.