(OTTAWA) – A commitment by Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial agriculture ministers to have a final ‘Growing Forward’ agriculture policy framework agreement in place by July of this year is welcome news for Canadian farmers. More importantly, as work proceeds on developing the programs under that framework, Canadian farm organizations welcome the ministers’ commitment to ensuring farmers continue to be involved in the process. The commitments were made in a communiqué from the ministers following a ministerial conference call late last week.

“We are pleased the ministers continue to keep the process moving. I can’t stress enough how important it is we have the framework finalized by July so the programs farmers need will be in place by next March,” said Bob Friesen, President of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA). “I also have to stress the importance of continuing the level of industry-government partnership that has been so valuable in getting ‘Growing Forward’ to the stage it is at now.”

The Canadian Federation of Agriculture hailed the initial ‘Growing Forward’ framework document, signed by ministers in July, 2007, as a positive first step towards a new national agriculture policy to promote growth in the industry. The framework strongly reflected the input provided by industry, although a number of significant gaps remain to be addressed. Those gaps include:
- An AgriFlex program to provide federal funding flexibility for regional business risk management (BRM) and non-BRM companion programs.
- Programs and policies to improve the ability of young farmers and new entrants to enter the agricultural industry.
- A Cooperative Investment Program (CIP) to promote investment in farmer-empowering agricultural co-operatives.
- Recognition that farmer-developed and -led initiatives like the national on-farm food safety program best serve the needs of farmers when they are managed by farmer organizations.

“The timeline is tight – July is not that far away. But CFA firmly believes if we continue the industry-government collaboration that has already resulted in the ‘Growing Forward’ framework and the improved suite of BRM programs including additional improvements we can fill the gaps, get the programs developed, and have by 2009 a working national agriculture policy that will move towards  long-term sustainability and profitability for our industry.”

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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.