A Green (Party) View on Canada’s Ag Present and Future

Sep 09, 2021

The Green Party of Canada talked with Farms.com about its agricultural platform heading into Election 2021.

Andrew Joseph, Farms.com

On Monday, September 20, 2021, Canadians will vote to determine the next Prime Minister, members of the House of Commons to the 44th Canadian Parliament, and the path Canada will take in the near future.

For Canadians—whether they realize it or not—how the federal government handles its agricultural, and thus farmers and farm industry, is of great importance.

Farms.com contacted agriculture party critics from the federal NDP, Green Party of Canada, and the Conservative Party, as well as the reigning Liberal Party’s minister of agriculture for their party’s view on how they see the agriculture sector and offer insight on what the future may hold should they take power.

We are still waiting to confirm participation from the Liberals and the Conservatives agriculture critics.

Beginning our video series: the Green Party of Canada. The official agriculture party critic, but non-candidate, Dr. Maria Rodriguez recently discussed her party’s view on the Canadian ag landscape and what the plan is going forward.

View the NDP video.

Video: Finding a Balance of Innovation and Regulation - Dr. Peter Facchini

Regulations help markets and industry exist on level playing fields, keeping consumers safe and innovation from going too far. However, incredibly strict regulations can stunt innovation and cause entire industries to wither away. Dr. Peter James Facchini brings his perspective on how existing regulations have slowed the advancement of medical developments within Canada. Given the international concern of opium poppy’s illicit potential, Health Canada must abide by this global policy. But with modern technology pushing the development of many pharmaceuticals to being grown via fermentation, is it time to reconsider the rules?

Dr. Peter James Facchini leads research into the metabolic biochemistry in opium poppy at the University of Calgary. For more than 30 years, his work has contributed to the increased availability of benzylisoquinoline alkaloid biosynthetic genes to assist in the creation of morphine for pharmaceutical use. Dr. Facchini completed his B.Sc. and Ph.D. in Biological Sciences at the University of Toronto before completing Postdoctoral Fellowships in Biochemistry at the University of Kentucky in 1992 & Université de Montréal in 1995.