A Cornucopia of Policy Developments in 2012 for Canada’s Agri‐Food Sector: Can Industry and Governments Rise to the Challenge?

 

The Agriculture and Food Council is committed to distributing various policy initiatives and consultations from across the country that pertain to agriculture or agri-business in the province of Alberta. It is part of the team effort at the Council to ensure Alberta’s agricultural community receives information about the changing, and sometimes volatile, operating environment for agri-businesses domestically and internationally. The fundamental question is always, do we have the national and provincial strategic policies, both defensive and proactive, to ensure the growth and prosperity of the sector?

 

Click here to view  “A Cornucopia of Policy Developments in 2012 for Canada’s Agri‐Food Sector:

Can Industry and Governments Rise to the Challenge?” by Bob Seguin, Executive Director of the George Morris Centre. It raises some key points and directions for governments and the sector to consider.

 

Growing Forward 2


In addition to its role as a policy forum, the Agriculture and Food Council also encourages industry leaders to get involved in consultations and influence policy directions for the benefit of the industry. An example of this is the Council's involvement in advising its members on the progress of Growing Forward 2 consultations and providing discussion points for their use.

Please visit the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada website for more information about the Growing Forward 2. Information from this website appears below.

Growing Forward 2: 2013-2018


The Canadian agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products sector is an important contributor to Canada's overall economy and, like other economic sectors, must evolve to meet emerging challenges and opportunities.

In July 2008, Federal/Provincial/Territorial (FPT) Ministers announced the completion of the Growing Forward framework, with a vision for a profitable and innovative agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products industry that seizes opportunities in responding to market demands and contributes to the health and well-being of Canadians.

The five-year Growing Forward policy agreement expires on March 31, 2013 and a successor framework must be ready for implementation on April 1, 2013.

To support the development of Growing Forward 2, Federal/Provincial/Territorial (FPT) governments have committed to a multi-phased engagement strategy with a broad range of stakeholders across the agriculture value chain.

Drawing industry and governments together to reach a consensus on the policy directions needed to achieve an industry that meets consumer demands while being competitive as well as adaptive and sustainable.

The Growing Forward 2 engagement strategy is comprised of three phases. Agriculture and Food Council members participated in the first two phases of the consultations and the Phase 3 Engagement is set to take place from January - March 2012.

During this final phase of engagement, FPT governments and industry stakeholders will focus on the development of program options that support the policy priorities identified in Phase 2.

In the coming months, more information will be made available to explain how and when industry representatives may participate in this collaborative effort to develop the next agriculture and agri-food policy framework.

Please see the letter below from AFC Executive Director John Connolly sent to members in advance of consultations for information about the Council's position on Growing Forward 2.

 Dear AFC Executive, Directors and Members:

The federal consultation team for The Growing Forward Framework Agreement - the "second edition" - is beginning national consultations.

There was no reference in the Agricultural Policy Framework nor in Growing Forward - with the exception of a pledge to support national associations - of the valuable work that the sectoral associations and organizations (SAOs) perform in building the capacity of the sector and working in collaboration with governments and other organizations to generate prosperity for agriculture, in general, and Alberta, in particular.  It is an enormous contribution and it needs to be recognized by federal and provincial ministers. Statistics Canada indicates that SAOs contributed $20 billion to the Canadian economy in 2003.

CAAP councils are one part of a larger picture where SAOs are present but not recognized in policy. I know that many AFC members wear many hats and are leaders in other SAOs. If our views are not registered on the official record of these meetings, the drafters of the new Growing Forward Framework will have no basis for including the recognition of SAOs and we will continue to be the "shadow sector" of agriculture.  

Having a statement in the Growing Forward Framework will be instrumental in facilitating the future growth and diversification of AFC, as well as other SAOs. I know that the Growing Forward Framework is an agreement between governments, but at the same time it is a national policy for the sector. We can and need to be a part of that.

We also need to have a consistent and clear voice in the consultations both provincially and nationally and I have taken the liberty to attach some points to register that you may wish to consider. Please register for one of the upcoming Growing Forward 2 consultations to add your voice to the discussion so that opportunities for AFC and other SAOs will be reflected in the Growing Forward Framework.

I will also encourage my national counterparts to do something similar at the consultations in their province or territory.

People know that we do excellent work, and now is the time for recognition.

Sincerely,
John Connolly
Executive Director

 

Points to register

 

  • SAOs in the agriculture sector have historically been the catalyst for building the capacity of the sector.
  • SAOs organize, develop policy, deliver programs, work with different levels of government and perform an essential role in the sector.
  • SAOs represent every facet of the sector right from the smallest producer, or value-added small to medium size enterprise, to the largest agri-businesses in Canada.
  • CAAP councils, in particular, deliver programs that generate innovation and pathfinding that leads to advances and successes in the sector.
  • Ministers and governments rely on SAOs and know they are a key component in supporting the growth of the sector.
  • Statistics Canada says the non-profit sector in agriculture in Canada contributed $20 billion to the GDP in 2003.
  • We appreciate and are thankful for the funding and programs that are currently given to SAOs.
  • We would ask that ministers include a statement in the new policy that recognizes our work.
  • This is not an ask for more funding.
  • This is not an ask for new programs.
  • This is simply an ask to be part of our national policy for the sector.