WHEREAS we enter the 21st century, agricultural issues in Canada have moved toward issues of trade promotion, market development and international competitiveness and away from domestic food policy;
WHEREAS both federal and provincial governments share jurisdiction for agriculture and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada continues to be the central ministry for Agri-food issues;
WHEREAS government has centered its focus on industry matters and not on consumers interests in having a sustainable Canadian food industry for Canadians;
WHEREAS the family farm remains in peril because of indebtedness, and many farmers, including young farmers have exited the industry;
WHEREAS the inadequateness of measures taken to negotiate between farmers and lending institutions and the rural transition programs to keep farmers in the industry;
WHEREAS programs intended to retain employment in rural areas have not proven successful;
BE IT RESOLVED that a Liberal Government create a partnership between Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the Canadian Federation of Agriculture to develop a national food strategy for Canada that will address food supply, sustainable farm income for farmers, agricultural employment, environmental sustainability and a secure food supply for Canadians.
Liberal Party of Prince Edward Island
Can we add ending harmful subsidies to this?
In the face of climate change, this partnership and its goals, if instituted, will become more and more important. We don’t know where the changes will affect growth patterns, and top-line research is needed on this. Research will employ people, as well. I consider this a very important resolution. Welwyn
It is in my opinion, the political parties at all levels, need to hammer out a long range plan for farm land preservation. It is unacceptable in 2011 that we are paving over some of the best land in the world.
To assume that increase production will take up the every increasing demand is just plain…..use your own words
We elect representatives to protect our long range interest as a country. Clearly, capitalism reigns supreme.
This is a very important issue facing the world but with a few, holding the power and finances, and the rights of citizens, who own the land, not sure, if it is possible to move the ball.
We need a coordianted approach to solving the problems of food supply
how about eggs, milk and cheese in Quebec….highly subsidized…is that a good thing for consumers?
I think that this is a very important topic.
I have been involved for quite some time in the Fair Trade movement – designed to ensure a fair (hopefully living) return to farmers in the 3rd world. With a labelling regime to certify it to consumers.
What about a domestic “Fair ” program – also with labelling to allow consumers the ability to choose products, that may be more expensive, but where there is a guaranteed minimum paid to the producer.
I see a need to adress the unemployment in the rural areas due to the use of machines over manual labour.
I see a need for fair trade for the farmers and industry and the consumers.
I see a need for companion planting in liue of chemical pesticides
I see the need for a food as medecine movement
I see the need for a sustainable Ontario, Canada and further to trade the excess to the world.
As a city slicker, I don’t have a good understanding of the problems our Canadian farmers encounter – do we have an agricultural “critic” who can weiigh in on the issues, such as the recent controversy over the wheat board? Farmers were giving handouts at the subway last week and there have been only a few newspaper items. Where do I look to get informed?
The family farm has been the backbone of the midwest. The large, more than 5000 A farms, are owned by large grain corporations, in many instances. It is up to those who farm whether they want to organize their own grain transportation to market of if they would rather pay a fee to have traders do this for them. It is similar to you owning stocks. Do you want to do the research or rely on someone else to guide your buys and sells?
The other issue is the survival of Churchill. We need to worry about the fall out of robbing the midwest of the family farm and the CWB. Churchill could be the new Winsor if this gets rammed down the farmer’s throats. If they have never had to arrange the transport and sale of their grain and they are in their 50′s, these farmers could just give up and take the price offered to them to get off their land.
Support the right of the farmer to decide if they want to farm or if they want to farm, transport and sell on their grain on the open market. It is one thing to grown grain but quite another to organize the trains to ship it and very different type of work to find the buyers and get the best price. Those two functions are what the Canadian Wheat Board does.
I strongly support this resolution. We talk about our great country, but we seem to be just luckily bumping along the road. We need strong national strategies to move into the future, not just for Agricultural, but just about everything else. Those national strategies should be transparent and enshrined somehow, so that the next idiotic political leader has to go through some hoops before it can be changed.
I support the resolution
E.Nyborg
As citizens of Canada, we have a duty to support our country’s position as a global leader in world markets. We need to refocus, cut back in areas that have been inefficient, and invest in areas that foresee increasing demand. We must keep costs as low as we reasonably can, and end subsidies that keep us uncompetitive in today’s global market economy.
We must stay competitive & grow our agricultural economy by providing loans at reasonable interest rates directly to the ownership of troubled farms, (upon conditions that those funds would be invested wisely.) We must give, without hesitation, Canadian farmers a voice through a comprehensive and standardized national food policy.
Most importantly, we must look to the long-term future and invest heavily into R&D and infrastructure to plan for further sustained increases in agricultural output.
I support this resolution
My paternal grand parents were farmers and able to live mainly off the land
It should not become a lost industry but should be developed to the fullest
Lorna Sutherland
On Vancouver Island we produce 3% of our food. It may not be possible for one region to support all it needs but overall in Canada we should promote/encourage overall food self-sufficiency in our national interest. Restrictions on the production of foods from local small farms should be addressed. Small producers should have a place in the overall agriculture economy and consumers should be provided with some choice.
Three comments:
“Suits” from corporate headquarters somewhere running farms is just plain scary.
The inequity of food supply on this planet is unconscionable — people starve and die while others overeat and discard far too much. The collective and ethical will to address this is paramount.
Given population growth, the ability of the world to feed itself is fast diminishing. A national and international food strategy is definitely a step in the right direction.
National Strategies are always needed unless you are Harper and the Conservatives
First of all, I’m not farmer. I can’t imagine the challenges they face, but I don’t think it unreasonable for the government to assist a sector facing difficulties in developing a plan. I think the resolution is find with one exception. I believe that some farm have subsidize their income with other related commercial activities; ie. wind mills to sell energy, that may not relate to food production. I would change the language from national food strategy to national farm strategy.
Not a word about safe food.
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