The president of Keystone Agriculture Producers (KAP) was very pleased to see the variety in turn out at this week's industry consultation meeting with Manitoba Agriculture.
Dan Mazier says at his table alone, there were representatives from the trucking industry, food processing, YES! Winnipeg, as well as primary producers.
Manitoba Agriculture held the consultation as a start for developing a targeted growth strategy for the sector, and Mazier says the discussions were dynamic and thoughtful.
"Social license was one of the topics we discussed, and it was about how you view social licensing, but also how can the government help? What role should the government play in that discussion?" Mazier says.
Mazier can't remember a time that Manitoba Agriculture has ever held such a meeting in past, and thinks the meeting goes to show Manitoba's new government is walking the talk.
"What really impressed me, and I think the crowd in general, was the minister stayed there all day," Mazier says. "It wasn't like we was going to let his staff do everything. He was interactive, he was very engaged in what was going on around him, and that's always good to see. So we'll see what happens. This is the very beginning of the consultation process that I think will figure out how we're going to grow Manitoba."
Source : Portageonline