NDP's Ag Critic Outlines Priorities On The File

Dec 02, 2019

The federal NDP's Agriculture Critic says he's ready to roll up his sleeves and get back to work on the file.

Alistair MacGregor, representing the Cowichan-Malahat-Langford riding of B.C., was once again named Agriculture Critic last week, but this time he's taking on Rural Economic Development as part of the portfolio.

MacGregor says the two dovetail nicely with each other, pointing to issues such as access to rural high-speed internet.

"If we're going to make sure that our rural communities thrive and survive, and take advantage of the opportunities of a 21st Century economy, that absolutely has to be a priority in getting that network established as soon as possible."

MacGregor was also appointed to serve as the Party's Deputy Justice Critic.

With nearly two years of experience under his belt as the NDP's Ag Critic, MacGregor says he'd like to see improvements from the Liberals on the international trade front.

MacGregor adds, we're starting to hear more about the effects of climate change on farmers, and he'd like to see what ways farming operations can be better prepared to withstand extreme weather events.

"But also to recognize the efforts that many farmers are already putting into being the best tools that we have against climate change," he explained. "We all know that well managed and healthy soils can sequester carbon in amazing quantities, and I would like to give better recognition to efforts made by farmers."

Following a challenging harvest with wet and wintry conditions across the prairies this Fall, MacGregor didn't indicate whether he's for or against carbon tax exemptions for farmers, but says he'd like to see improvements to existing Business Risk Management programs.

Parliament resumes on Thursday, December 5, where MacGregor says there will be a chance to greet the Liberal's Agriculture Minister, Marie-Claude Bibeau, who he knows quiet well.

He says he's also awaiting the Prime Minister's mandate letter for Minister Bibeau, as he would like to see what the Government's priorities are for the 43rd parliament.

"Once I can see that mandate letter, it will give me a better sense of the kind of things we can expect from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada over the 12 months."

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Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.