MONTREAL -- Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe is expressing disappointment at certain elements of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, saying it would mean a loss of income for milk producers.
While Canada's protected dairy sector remains mostly intact under the agreement, another 3.25 per cent share of imports would be allowed over five years.
The increase in exports from 11 other TPP countries would displace about 250 million litres of Canadian milk.
The Bloc estimates that means a loss of $25,000 for each milk producer when concessions in the proposed free-trade agreement with Europe are also taken into account.
"This is no modest breach," Duceppe said Monday as he campaigned in his Montreal riding of Laurier-Sainte-Marie.
Duceppe said the party would study the complex agreement in full because, more often than not, "the devil is in the details."
In exchange for lost income, Ottawa would compensate Canadian farmers and processors $4.3 billion over 15 years.
But that did little to soothe Duceppe.
"What needs to be maintained in its entirety is the revenue of farmers," he said. And on that score, "there are promises, a lot of things in the conditional and no actual text yet."
