(OTTAWA) – The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) is welcoming a new initiative by the federal Liberal Party to look at some of the key issues facing agriculture. Liberal leader Stephan Dion has  announced the creation of a task force within his party to investigate critical issues affecting prosperity in agriculture, such as the high cost of production and the crisis facing the Canadian livestock industry.

“The CFA believes it is a good thing whenever any of Canada’s political parties look to find solutions and develop good policy through active consultation with Canadian farmers,” said Bob Friesen, CFA President. “The CFA members are certainly prepared to be engaged with this task force.”

Dion has named Agriculture Critic Wayne Easter and Cindy Duncan-McMillan, a former President of the Quebec Farmers’ Association and current nominated election candidate, to head the task force.
 
“Mr. Easter and Ms. McMillan both know the industry and I am confident they will deliver good ideas,” said Friesen.

Friesen added, “The critical thing will be, when this task force delivers its final results, that the recommendations will be useful in the government/industry partnership work on ‘Growing Forward’. These recommendations should not be allowed to simply gather dust on a shelf.”

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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.