News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 14, 2005

(OTTAWA) - The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) supports waiving Canada’s rules on food aid so aid agencies can effectively address the need in the countries affected by the December tsunami.

Current rules require that 90 per cent of Canadian international food aid be purchased in Canada. CFA supports giving Canadian aid agencies more flexibility to purchase food from producers in the affected regions in order to permit more efficient and cost-effective delivery of aid.

“Canadian farmers join all Canadians in wanting to help those whose lives have been devastated by this tragedy,” said Bob Friesen, CFA President. “This is definitely no time to be playing politics over our aid programs. People need food immediately and we cannot afford shortages.”

Although CFA supports Canada taking this unilateral action to address the current crisis, in the long term CFA also believes this issue must be addressed in global trade talks to prevent other countries like the United States – which currently requires 100 per cent of its food aid under the Farm Bill to be sourced in the U.S. – from taking advantage.

“Sourcing food in the regions where aid is typically needed would also help the farmers in those areas,” noted Friesen. “Food aid rules are currently being negotiated at the WTO. Now is the time for everyone to get onside.”

-30-

Founded in 1935 to provide Canada's farmers with a single voice in Ottawa, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture is the country's largest farmers' organization. Its members include provincial general farm organizations as well as national and inter-provincial commodity organizations from every province. Through its members, CFA represents over 200,000 Canadian farmers and farm families.