Ottawa, November 24, 2023 – Food and Beverage Canada (FBC-ABC) and the Baking Association of Canada together express deep concerns regarding the ongoing labour dispute at the Rogers (Lantic) sugar refinery in Vancouver. The resulting shortage of raw sugar supplies in Western Canada is not only impacting the local economy but poses a threat to the stability of Canada’s food system.
While recognizing and respecting the importance of the collective bargaining process, our concern is the broader implications for Canada’s vital food and beverage manufacturing sector. This sector, which sustains more than 320,000 jobs and contributed $33.7 billion to Canada’s gross domestic product in 2022, has been grappling with substantial supply chain challenges in recent years.
Martin Barnett, Executive Director of the Baking Association of Canada, emphasizes the gravity of the situation, stating, “The detrimental effect of this dispute on bakers’ production, just as one example, not only imperils this busy baking season but has serious ramifications for the operations of our small and medium-sized bakers in the future.”
Food and Beverage Canada and the Baking Association of Canada jointly call upon the federal government and its provincial counterparts to institute a robust and comprehensive contingency plan to support the sector in events such as these. Such a plan is imperative to shield Canada’s food system from any future disruptions to the supply chain.
Media contact:
Kristina Farrell
CEO, Food and Beverage Canada
613-322-9235
Martin Barnett
Executive Director, The Baking Association of Canada
905-405-0288