CFA leaders focus on Farmer's Agenda at Roundtable with Canadian agriculture ministers

OTTAWA - Leaders of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) yesterday hosted an open and frank discussion with industry groups and federal and provincial agriculture ministers on proposals for the long-term sustainability of agriculture in Canada. A primary point of discussion was the critical situation affecting farmers today, and the need for immediate measures to bring about the stability required for success in the long-term.

"We are pleased to have had this opportunity for a face-to-face meeting with agriculture ministers from coast to coast. Coming out of the Roundtable, we are confident that our governments appreciate that farmers want to be actively involved -- right at the table -- when farm policy and programs are being developed," said CFA President Ron Bonnett.

With participants representing all commodities and provinces, the 10th annual CFA-hosted Tripartite Roundtable served as a valuable forum to share perspectives from all regions of Canada. CFA was pleased that both the Honourable Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Minister of State (Agriculture) were in attendance. The meeting preceded the annual conference of federal and provincial ministers of agriculture.

"Farmers deserve a Government that puts Farmers First when creating agriculture policies and that's exactly what this Conservative Government does," said Minister Ritz. "We will continue to work closely with farmers and industry groups to make sure programs respond quickly and effectively, invest in targeted, producer led projects that drive innovation, and find new market opportunities that strengthen the farm gate today and for the future."

In bringing the Farmer's Agenda to the Roundtable, the CFA members centred their presentation around three key subject areas: • The importance of developing a long-term National Food Strategy • Proposals for the short-term: amendments to AgriStability that will enable adequate risk management • Medium-term recommendations, which include improved food safety protocols and enhancements to the BRM suite of programs

"A healthy and prosperous agriculture sector is of utmost importance to both rural and urban Canada," said Bonnett. "However, this long-term goal of industry sustainability can only be appropriately designed once a strategic perspective is developed, taking into account the full range of short, medium, and long-term challenges and opportunites."

The CFA and its members look forward to working in partnership with agriculture ministers on the next generation of agriculture policy with the aim of ensuring effective and responsive programming for farmers now and into the future.

About the Canadian Federation of Agriculture
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, national and inter-provincial commodity organizations, and cooperatives from every province. Through its members, CFA represents over 200,000 Canadian farmers and farm families.