On August 2 the Prime Minister dissolved parliament and formally launched the 42nd Canadian general election. And amid the whirlwind during election campaigns, Canadian Pork Council chair Rick Bergmann says it's important to ensure that all political parties are made aware of the priority areas that need to be addressed to strengthen the pork industry and build for the future.
“If we, as producers, don't tell our story and talk about what is needed to build more sustainability not only for this generation but the next generation, nobody will,” Bergmann said. “Agriculture is such a unique business that very few people know about in detail, but everybody is very dependent on.”
Bergmann stressed how critically important it is that organizations like Canadian Pork Council along with pork producers and processors across the country take the initiative and voice the needs that we have as an industry to election candidates.
“Certainly trade is extremely critical for our industry as a major exporter, so besides the negotiation updates and reports with respect to the TPP negotiations and the Country of Origin Labeling case, which, mostly connected to the beef industry, has had a tremendously negative effect on our industry as well over the years, we need to get speak up and stress the importance of getting these deals rectified so we can move on to the future,” Bergmann added. “Competitiveness is also very critical for our industry and there's a whole gambit of items underneath our business risk management umbrella that we will be talking to government people about.”
Bergmann notes the pork industry is a major economic engine for Canada and that is something that not a lot of people are aware of so we need to be telling our story on that issue.
Source: Meatbusiness