I recently attended my first annual conference of Canadian agriculture ministers where we discussed the future of agriculture in British Columbia and Canada.
As Canada’s Pacific Gateway, and most diverse agricultural province, B.C. has a unique viewpoint in nationwide discussions and I was happy to bring the voice of west coast farmers to the table.
I spoke directly with federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz about our Agri-Recovery application to support B.C. farmers and ranchers adversely affected by bad weather.
As a result, Ritz confirmed a total of $5 million of federal/provincial funding would soon be available to help keep local food on the tables of B.C. families.
We announced this funding upon my return, in Delta on July 12.
The sustainability of Canadian farms through market development and access to trade were high on the agenda and the ministers agreed strategic choices are critical.
Market access for beef, cherries and blueberries in China, and various non-tariff barriers to seafood in the European Union remain B.C.’s top priorities. As a result of last year’s trade mission to Asia, China is close to opening its doors to B.C. beef and cherries.
Developing domestic markets and responding to consumer demands are also critical to the future success of agriculture. B.C. continues to push for further reductions in inter-provincial trade barriers, and I asked all the ministers to review their positions on the inter-provincial trade of wine.
While they agreed we need to open borders to support our unregulated commodities, we were also firm in our commitment to maintaining our supply management sectors.
As we move into the final years of the federal-provincial funding agreement, Growing Forward, a new Growing Forward 2 (GF2) agreement is taking shape. The current agreement brings almost $553 million of funding to B.C., in a 60/40 federal-provincial sharing ratio.
Discussions focused on the need for an agreement that recognizes regional differences and allows flexibility for each province to capitalize on its farming strengths.
B.C. had one of the highest stakeholder participation rates at provincial GF2 engagement sessions last month, and I passed on the consensus opinion that informed consultation with entire value chains, from producer to consumer, is essential to achieve a strong and effective GF2 agreement.
The ministers agreed innovation requires increased, longer-term and more flexible funding that can help implement and grow new opportunities and ideas.
B.C.’s goal is to assist those who embrace innovation, the green economy, and identify and meet new consumer demands.
I think it is important to note a strong farming sector finds business success in the marketplace through innovation and leveraging competitive advantages, while government assists with key infrastructure, and research and development.
The ministers also agreed we need to support greater strategic investment to help farmers be more competitive and profitable while ensuring a strong foundation through income support and disaster relief.
In B.C., we enjoy an outstanding competitive advantage in terms of the diversity of our food commodities and our commitment to food safety, traceability and environmental stewardship.
We will continue to work together, with our federal and provincial partners to build a strong, sustainable agriculture sector that families in B.C. and across Canada can depend on.
Don McRae is the provincial minister of agriculture.
