Dear Editor,
It was with great surprise and disappointment that I read in the Feb. 13 edition of THE EQUITY that Todd Hoffman is the founding member of the People’s Party of Canada for the riding of Pontiac.
Although I appreciate Hoffman’s view on the value of being able to offer opinions openly, I find it upsetting that he would lend such support to a party that holds abolishing the supply management of dairy and poultry produce as one of its key pillars.
Especially, considering that the concrete plant that he and his father operated for many years delivered so much of the concrete that was poured into barn foundations, bunk silos and manure pits on dairy farms across the Pontiac and on the Ontario side of the river.
There are 21 dairy farms in the riding of Pontiac. These small businesses collectively produce 30,000+ litres of milk every day and, depending on their size, inject anywhere from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands into the regional economy. These dairy farms rely on the supply management system to maintain a level of price stability at the farm gate in an industry that is subject to many other uncontrollable elements.
If you value the impact that these operations have on the local economy, please, do not support Maxime Bernier and the PPC.
Robbie Beck, local dairy farmer
Shawville, Que.
