Key areas include market access, competitiveness, and soil health policy
The Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) is the latest ag organization to publish its priorities for the upcoming federal election.
The group’s document, titled Unleashing Agriculture for Canada’s Growth, highlights five important areas APAS would like to see included in federal party promises.
One priority for the organization is international trade and market access.
It would like to see the next government take measures to ensure Canada is viewed as a reliable supplier of ag goods, and that those products can move across the country.
“The federal government should prioritize investments in efficient transportation and logistics infrastructure, including rail, ports, and roads, to support international trade,” the APAS document says. “This should be closely linked to a modernized Rail Freight Policy to ensure a cohesive approach.”
Another area APAS wants the next government to address is the shortage in veterinarians.
The organization is requesting the federal government allocate upwards of $100 million to develop a national testing centre for foreign-trained vets at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine.
“The Canadian agricultural sector is experiencing a critical shortage of veterinarians, particularly large animal vets, affecting biosecurity and the economic viability of rural communities,” APAS said in its document. “Internationally trained veterinarians face delays in licensure due to limited capacity for clinical proficiency examinations (CPE).”
More ag groups are putting out election priorities too.
The National Cattle Feeders’ Association is asking parties to address trade, regulatory barriers, labour shortages, and other challenges.
In terms of trade, the organization is specifically asking for financial assistance for cattle feeders affected by tariffs to begin on the first day of the next session of Parliament.
In addition, it wants assurances that Canada’s Border Services Agency is prepared to respond to food and mouth disease, and that the CFIA is working on a vaccine bank.
Pulse Canada is asking political leaders to make trade a central election issue.
“Now more than ever, those running for office must demonstrate they understand the needs of our sector and share a clear plan to ensure Canada remains a global leader in agricultural exports,” Pulse Canada President Greg Cherewyk said in a statement.
The Canadian Federation of Agriculture, Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada, and Canadian Canola Growers Association have all released election priorities as well.
To date, only one party has published its plan to support Canadian ag.
The Liberals released its commitments on April 2.
Promises include protecting supply management, earmarking an additional $30 million to the AgriMarketing Program, and increasing the loan guarantee limit to $1 million of the Canadian Agricultural Loans Act program.