The Federal Conservative's Agriculture Critic says they want to work with farmers to help them get through this difficult time of market uncertainty.
Following the release of the Conservative's Party Platform on Friday, Oct 11, Luc Berthold who's running in the Quebec riding of Mégantic—L'Érable says, if elected, Party Leader Andrew Scheer will convene a meeting with farm groups just after the election to assess the damage and determine how to help producers.
"We are facing geopolitical tension, we are facing trade war, we are facing China," he said. "We are facing a lot of things, and unfortunately for the last year the Trudeau Government didn't do anything about it."
Berthold says they'll also work with provinces and farmers to make Agri-Stability more simple, predictable and timely.
Another big priority for the Conservative's will be scrapping the carbon tax, which Berthold says has been affecting Canadian farmers.
Also drawing attention from the ag sector is the Platform promise to postpone new animal transportation regulations until they conduct a review.
The amendments announced earlier this year requiring more loading and unloading for rest stops raised concerns among beef producers this will increase the animal's stress and chance of injury.
The Canadian Cattlemen's Association had requested the new regulations be delayed, but this was never granted by the Government with rules set to take effect in February of 2020.
Berthold says they will wait for the whole study Health Canada and Agriculture Canada is conducting.
"We know that we will have a science-based study delivered in less than one year, so why aren't we waiting for this study to make the right decision?" Berthold asked.
Berthold says they'll also apply to update Canada's BSE status from controlled to negligible risk in 2020 to help beef producers grow their market share.
He also agrees agriculture is not getting the attention it needs in this election, saying the ag leaders debate was never picked up by national media.
However, it's an important issue for Berthold on the campaign trail.
"I'm always talking about agriculture, I'm always talking about farmers. Unfortunately I don't have the listening I should have received from all the media, but be sure that the Conservative Party will continue to talk about agriculture."
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