The Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada (FVGC) continued the momentum of Canada Agriculture Day into a day of impactful advocacy on Parliament Hill on February 15. Engaging in meetings with 42 Members of Parliament, Senators, and key government officials, including a significant session with the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture, FVGC underscored the vital role of Canadian farmers in sustaining the nation's food system and economy.

In response to rising food costs and living expenses, FVGC's advocacy emphasized crucial reforms: the swift passage of Bill C-234, in its original form, for carbon pricing exemptions to lower production costs, supporting Bill C-280 for financial protection of produce growers and sellers, promoting investment in greenhouse agriculture, and advocating for a $8 million budget increase for the Pest Management Centre (PMC) along with a permanent increase in the Pest Management Regulatory Agency’s (PMRA) A-base funding to enable timely science-based assessments.

“Effective crop protection is at the heart of sustainable agriculture. By advocating for increased funding of both PMC and PMRA, we're aiming to secure a future where Canadian growers can continue to produce food both affordably and sustainably with continued access to crop protection tools,” emphasized Jason Smith, chair of the FVGC Crop Protection Advisory Group, and a British Columbia blueberry grower.

"Rather than encouraging greener operations, the carbon tax imposes a heavy financial burden that stifles innovation and hampers our global competitiveness,” stated Linda Delli Santi, chair of the FVGC Greenhouse Vegetable Working Group, who was a greenhouse tomato and pepper grower in British Columbia for 30 years. "With food costs being a top concern for all Canadians, it's imperative that greenhouse growers, who are pioneers with a strong record of environmental stewardship already heavily invested in sustainable practices, see incentives and policy-driven support."
 

Source:  Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada February 16, 2024 news release