By Alice McFarlane

Federal parties outline agriculture priorities in debate

Sep 10, 2021 | 12:39 PM

MELFORT, Sask. – The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) sponsored a debate that focused on issues of concern for the sector.

The three key areas focused on economic growth, the environment, and infrastructure.

A total of seven questions were presented that included disaster relief, supply management, and trade.

The participants were NDP MP Alistair MacGregor, Bloc Quebecois MP Yves Perron, Conservative MP Dave Epp, and Liberal candidate and Agriculture minister Marie-Claude Bibeau.

The 90-minute debate began with the candidates discussing business risk management programs (BRM) and how each party would make improvements to ensure farmers have the resources they need.

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All agreed that various programs needed to be improved.

Speaking through an interpreter Perron said these programs need to be overhauled.

“Do away with red tape, paperwork such that it takes one year that companies that have faced losses received money support and relief, we need to increase relief for the agricultural sector,” Perron said.

Bibeau said she has worked closely with provincial colleagues to improve BRM’s.

“We’ve been able to reach a consensus to increase AgriStability by $95 million per year already, by removing the reference margin limits, which was a big deal. It was unfair for different sectors,” Bibeau said. “I’m very proud that we made this happen.”

Epp said in his conversations with farmers and industry they want a partnership in determining the direction of programs.

“That’s the attitude a Conservative government would bring. We need to review our business risk management programming, we need to review our regulatory framework, not throw it away. We’re known for that,” Epp said. “But we need to make it far more efficient, not only agriculture, but in other parts of our economy.”

McGregor said the program needs to be needs to built around the theme of resiliency.

“The last 18 months have really exposed a lot of cracks in the system. I agree that we don’t want an Ottawa knows best approach. But we do want strong federal leadership in many areas,” McGregor said.

CFA president Mary Robinson said the debate was an excellent opportunity to give farmers across the country an idea of each party’s vision for the future, to help inform their votes.

“CFA looks forward to working together with all representatives in our next federal government to help Canadian agriculture reach its vast potential,” Robinson said.

You can watch the debate on the CFA YouTube channel.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @farmnewsNOW