Canada. Canadian Dairy Commission : The Canadian Dairy Commission is a Crown Corporation established by the Canadian Dairy Commission Act of October 31, 1966. Its primary mandate is to coordinate federal and provincial dairy policies, to act as a control mechanism for milk production, to help stabilize revenues and limit surpluses. The Canadian Dairy Commission also acts as a facilitator and stakeholder in the forums that influence dairy policy in Canada. The CDC offers framework for the management of the dairy industry and has the authority to purchase, store, process or sell dairy products; to investigate matters relating to the production, processing or marketing of any dairy product; and to help promote the use of dairy products. The Commission is accountable to Parliament through the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada on matters relating to the Dairy Industry. It is headed by a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson and a Commissioner. The CDC is also counseled by a Consultative Committee appointed by the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. Members of which are farmers and dairy producers from across Canada.
The Commission carries out a wide range of activities. As of 1970, the CDC establishes support prices at which it will purchase butter and skim milk powder. These prices are used as a reference at the provincial level in pricing milk components sold to processors. It also works with the private sector to balance the seasonal demand and supply of industrial milk products for the domestic market through the operation of storage programs and facilitates the export of dairy products to world markets within Canada's World Trade Organization (WTO) commitments. Additionally, the Commission acts as first receiver of butter imports to fulfill Canada's international trade obligations and administers a permit system which provides further processors and exporters with access to competitively-priced milk components for use in the manufacturing of dairy products and products containing dairy ingredients.
Since its creation the CDC has developed the Canadian System of Milk Supply Management, notably with the implementation of the Comprehensive Milk Marketing Plan (1970). The supply of industrial milk is managed nationally through the establishment of Market Sharing Quotas (MSQ) as determined by provisions of the National Milk Marketing Plan. The Commission, in chairing the Canadian Milk Supply Management Committee (CMSMC), calculates and recommends the level of national MSQ and provincial market shares that are determined by the CMSMC. On behalf of Canadian dairy producers, the Commission administers and acts as a Secretariat to the revenue pooling and market sharing systems. Regulations entitled Dairy Marketing Regulations were passed on June 23, 1994, providing federal authority for interprovincial marketing in accordance with the National Milk Marketing Plan.
Programs managed by the CDC in 2006 : The Special Milk Class Permit Program (sets the price of milk according to its end use in order to allow processors and further processors to remain competitive); the Domestic Seasonality Programs (the CDC collaborates with the private sector to ensure a balance between the seasonal supply of dairy products and domestic demand); the Domestic Dairy Product Innovation Program (which complements the national supply management system by making milk available for the creation of innovative products for the Canadian consumer); the Dairy Marketing Program (the CDC raises awareness of Canadian dairy products and ingredients and to promote their use). The CDC continues to work in partnership with several institutions and organizations: the Dairy Farmers of Canada, the National Dairy Council, provincial milk marketing boards, agencies and provincial governments
CDC's Access to Information and Privacy requests and their administration are handled by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
