It's time to get cracking on promise to cushion the poultry sector from market share lost through trade deals.   Ottawa—Poultry and egg producers are once again calling on the federal government to live up to its promise to compensate them with full and fair support for market share lost through the European and Pacific free trade deals, a situation that will only worsen once the CUSMA comes into effect later this year. “We appreciate the government's repeated vocal support for supply management, but find the current situation worrisome,” says a statement issued jointly by the Chicken, Turkey and Egg Farmers of Canada and the Hatching Egg Producers. “Our farmers have been patient and cooperative, and need to see concrete action. The lack of movement on this file is concerning, especially since recommendations were put forward to the federal government almost a year ago.” In Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau's mandate letter from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau released in December, reaching a compensation arrangement with the supply-managed commodities on the market share loss was a priority item. While most dairy farmers have received their initial payment, the poultry sector as well the poultry and dairy processors are still waiting. Bibeau has said the compensation plans are being worked on but no one has an inkling of when they might come to pass. The mandate letter said Bibeau is to “protect supply-managed agricultural sectors and work with them to develop a vision of the future including compensation from market share lost because of free trade deals.” “Canadian poultry and egg farmers started 2020 with every reason to believe the federal government would follow through with full and fair support to mitigate the impacts” of the trade deals, the statement said. However, the groups “are disappointed that their members are still awaiting the details of these programs and initiatives. “Canada's 4,700 poultry and egg farmers have lost a significant portion of their domestic market, which will cost them a lot of net operating income,” the statement said. “In order to support our farmers as effectively as possible, our focus has been on programs and initiatives that strengthen the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of our sectors and rural communities, and continue to deliver made-in-Canada food. This approach allows us to navigate the unique dynamics of our respective industries and to plan for the future.” When fully implemented, the three trade deals are expected to cost the supply-managed producers between 10 and 20 per cent of the domestic market. Trudeau promised fair and equitable compensation to the farmers and processors in 2018. In early 2019, special working groups were formed by Agriculture Canada to negotiate with the farmers and processors. Their work concluded by last summer. Asked about the farmers' statement, Jean-Michel Laurin, President and CEO of the Canadian Poultry and Egg Processors Council, could only say, “We hope the government will soon announce its mitigation package for processors.” The Dairy Processors Association of Canada has said Canadian market share allocated to other countries “represents irrecoverable market share loss for domestic processors and, by extension, domestic farmers.” Alex Binkley is a freelance journalist and writes for domestic and international publications about agriculture, food and transportation issues. He's also the author of two science fiction novels with more in the works.