All four candidates at last night's debate in Holmesville agreed that the Trans Pacific Partnership will be good for Canadian farmers, but some also expressed concerns for Canadian Supply Management.
Conservative Ben Lobb pointed out that the government has already negotiated several trade agreements without sacrificing Supply Management, and farmers have enjoyed the best ten years agriculture has ever seen.
Liberal candidate Allan Thompson believes the current negotiations are too secretive and farmers have no idea what they're going to be asked to give up.
NDP candidate Gerard Creces agrees Canadian agriculture needs trade agreements but adds instead of shipping resources for other countries, we should be adding the value here and shipping processed products.
Green Party candidate Jutta Splettstoesser agreed on the importance of trade agreements without sacrificing supply management, but added she was concerned about the current government's funding cuts to research.
The Holmesville meeting was sponsored by the Huron County Federation of Agriculture.