Federal-Provincial-Territorial Annual Meeting of Ministers and Deputy Ministers of Agriculture

WHITEHORSE, June 29, 2001 --  Federal, provincial and territorial agriculture ministers today took a major step towards securing the long-term success of the sector by agreeing in principle on a national action plan to make Canada the world leader in food safety, innovation and environmental protection.
          The action plan will:

! Build on Canada’s reputation as a producer of safe, high-quality food, by strengthening on-farm food safety systems and securing their international recognition, and through the development of identity-preserving tracking and tracing systems throughout the food chain.

! Enhance the sector’s environmental performance through accelerated adoption of sound environmental practices on the farm.

! Improve farmers’ ability to manage the inherent risks of farming through safety net programming. 

! Use science to help the sector create economic opportunities with innovative new products, and to strengthen environmental stewardship and food safety.

! Renew the sector through programming for farmers that addresses their unique needs and helps them adapt to change.

Ministers recognized there will always be circumstances where farmers are faced with unanticipated income declines as a result of weather, disease and other factors beyond their control. Federal and provincial governments are committed to the current review of farm safety nets, with the aim of completion by 2002. They agreed that work on the long-term direction, in close consultation with industry, will build on safety net funding.

A federal-provincial agreement for chicken was signed by the Ministers Thursday, providing increased economic stability and operational flexibility for stakeholders.

Ministers were briefed on the progress of World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations and agreed to a special session this fall to discuss in detail international trade and market development. They also used the meeting as an opportunity to examine the overall performance of the sector and received an update on precautions against Foot and Mouth disease.

Ministers agreed that work must continue on other issues such as transportation and value-added production so that the sector can realize its full potential, through diversification and growth. Primary agriculture is the foundation of Canada’s $130-billion agri-food industry, which employs one in seven Canadians.

Ministers thanked the Yukon government for organizing the conference and providing a first hand look at agriculture in Canada’s true north. Next year’s annual meeting of federal, provincial and territorial agriculture ministers will be held in Halifax, N.S.

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The action plan is available at: www.agr.ca