Choose Canadian Dairy

In this lesson, you will think critically about the article: Choose Canadian Dairy @ dairyfarmersofcanada.ca prepared for the Globe & Mail.

Review the critical thinking framework. We will list the strong arguments presented in the article and practice trying to argue against them. This exercise will help you appreciate the benefits of a well-thought-out argument.

When you choose Canadian dairy, the impact goes beyond your fridge and our farms.

This article explains why Canadian dairy is important to food security, rural communities, and the national economy. It highlights how milk is produced locally, follows national standards, and supports jobs across the country. The article also connects Canadian dairy to stability, trust, and long-term planning in a changing global trade environment.

Issue:

When you buy locally produced milk, you can be confident you are supporting a Canadian product and an agricultural approach that strengthens our communities, our economy and our ability to feed ourselves now and into the future.

Premises:

As you read the article, find a statement of support for each of these categories: freshness, availability, stewardship, job security, professional networks, quality standards.

a sample statement you may notice for each category.

Exercises:

Note: This lesson does not assume the article is misleading. It explores how strong arguments function — and what it takes to respond thoughtfully to them.

Tackle as many as you have time. You can discuss or write your answers. Work with a friend, coach, or AI module.

Fact-check the premises you listed. Can you verify these 'facts' from more than one source?
Review the critical thinking framework. Can you find fault with the article?
You are president of the Almond Milk Society. Without critcising dairy products or even mentioning them, write a similar article encouraging consumers to try almond milk. Address these concerns: standards, freshness, taste, nutrition, dietary uses, and carbon-footprint. (See Template below.)
You are a member of a trade organization trying to promote your country's dairy products as a viable product for import to Canada. What is your strategy for reaching Canadian consumers? Make a list of the benefits your product has to offer, anticipating objections like: freshness, quality, price and availability.

Counter Article Template

Headline: Choosing Plant-Based: How a Local Carton Can Have Wider Impact

Opening (2–3 sentences): Name the problem + the choice.

Body (3 short sections):

Quality & Standards: (how it’s made, safety, labeling)

Supply Chain & Community: (jobs, local processing, farms—if applicable)

Sustainability & Goals: (water/land/transport/emissions—choose specific metrics)

Call to action: what to look for on labels, and a simple buying tip.

Scorecard

A “scorecard” you can use to evaluate the devil’s-advocate piece

Specificity: Are claims concrete or vague?
Checkability: Could a reader verify them?
Balance: Does it admit a limitation?
Tone: Is it persuasive without insulting the other side?
Clarity: Does every paragraph support the main point?

You can try taking the existing article and substituting 'Almond Milk' for 'dairy' and your points/statistics for the ones listed in the article.