The Conservative Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Agri-Food, Lianne Rood says 2020 had its fair share of challenges.
She says for the agriculture sector it started with trying to finish the 2019 harvest, to COVID and the new protocols it involved and the labour shortages it created.
"Thankfully our farmers, our producers, our ranchers we're a resilient group of people, and we've seen them
come through this. Do the best that they can to get through this. I know next year is going to be better
because of the resiliency of the industry and of folks across this country in the agriculture industry."
She says going forward into next year something she's been asking the federal health minister and provincial
health ministers for is a rapid testing pilot project to help get temporary foreign workers through the system sooner.
Rood says she's also concerned over what's happening with prices at the grocery stores.
"When grocery giants increase fees to suppliers, which is mostly farmers and processors, it raises the cost for them to supply to them and they have nobody to turn to, in order to recoup those costs. What your going to see at the grocery store is increases on your bills."
Rood is pushing for the development of a grocery code of conduct for Canada, something the provinces have agreed to look into.
She says it's important because it affects your everyday grocery bills, as well it can also create a shortage of supply on the shelves of small independent stores in rural areas.
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