Farms.com will outline what the four main parties have planned for the industry and rural Canada
By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com
As the federal election is less than a month away, Farms.com will be highlighting what the Liberal, Conservative, NDP and Green parties have in store for farmers and rural Canada should they form the next federal government.
The first party focus will be the incumbent Liberals.
Justin Trudeau’s party unveiled its platform, “FORWARD. A REAL PLAN FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS” on Sept. 29 during a campaign stop in Mississauga, Ont.
The Liberals plan to spend more money, bringing the national deficit to $27.4 billion next year and reducing it to $21 billion by the fourth year.
Here’s what another four years of Liberal government could mean for the ag industry.
In terms of risk management, a Liberal government promises to “move forward with a collaborative effort review of Canada’s business risk management programs, with a special focus on Agri-Stability, and are prepared to increase federal support to farmers to help them manage risks beyond their control,” the platform says.
The party plans to streamline where farmers can go to receive advisory and support services.
The Liberals want to merge services from different agencies into Farm Credit Canada’s responsibilities and call the new entity Farm and Food Development Canada. It will act as a “single point of service to help all parts of Canada’s food economy develop, grow, and export to new markets,” the platform states.
A Liberal federal government would increase Farm and Food Development Canada’s lending by up to $5 billion per year, on top of existing support from Farm Credit Canada.
A Liberal government would continue to support supply management.
The platform notes the support Ottawa provided for Canadian dairy farmers after negotiating trade deals with the United States and Mexico, Europe and Asian countries.
Trudeau’s next government would also invest in cleaner fuels.
His party commits to creating a “new technology and commercial support fund, administered through Western Economic Diversification,” the Liberal platform says. “This fund will help connect farmers, researchers, agribusinesses and energy companies, and help give producers an advantage in the clean economy.”
The Liberals restated their commitment to bring high-speed internet to all of Canada, including rural and remote communities, by 2030. The party also plans to install up to 5,000 charging stations along the Trans Canada Highway, and in rural communities to make using zero-emission vehicles easier.
Be sure to check Farms.com often as we will profile the Conservative, NDP and Green platforms soon.