Business risk management programs will be a focus for Minister RJ Sigurdson
By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com
Alberta’s minister of agriculture and irrigation plans to bring multiple topics forward when he meets with his federal, provincial and territorial (FPT) counterparts next month in Whitehorse.
“Some priority initiatives that will be brought forward include animal disease preparedness, improving the long-term sustainability of business risk management programs and crop protection and pesticides,” Minister RJ Sigurdson told Farms.com in an emailed statement.
Leading up to the July meeting, Farms.com has contacted ag ministers from across the country to find out which issues their farmers are concerned about, and if the ministers will work together to bring the federal government shared views on certain topics.
RJ Sigurdson
Multiple ministers indicated they would collaborate with their counterparts.
And Minister Sigurdson is on board with that idea.
"Alberta works closely with other jurisdictions to ensure we are united on issues that have the potential to impact producers across the country. An important priority is producer access to business risk management programs that are responsive, simple, equitable and timely,” he said in his statement. “Alberta will continue to work for Alberta farmers and ranchers by promoting agriculture and pushing back against policies that hinder the sector.
Agriculture has been - and continues to be - a key industry for our province, and this government will continue to advocate on behalf of our province’s farmers, ranchers and businesses.”
Farms.com has connected with three other ministers on this topic.
Minister Pam Alexis in B.C. says the number one issue facing farmers is the cost of production and how it continues to increase.
Minister Caitlin Cleveland from the Northwest Territories indicated emergency preparedness and reducing internal barriers to trade are important priorities for the ag community in the territory.
The other minister Farms.com received comment from is federal minister Lawrence MacAulay.
He highlighted that strengthening Canadian ag is a shared priority, and that initiatives like the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership is helping with market access, innovation and other areas.
The FPT meeting is scheduled for mid-July, and Farms.com will have more comments from ag ministers in the coming days and weeks.