Productive Ministers' Meeting

Federal, provincial and territorial Agriculture Ministers met at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario earlier this month (July 15-16) for their annual two-day meeting. Agreement was reached on a number of initiatives that will support the continued growth of the agri-food industry and increase its already strong contribution to the Canadian economy.

"Meeting with my counterparts was very productive," said Agriculture and Marketing Minister Ed Lorraine. "A number of issues were discussed, including internal trade, a new safety nets agreement and supporting the industry's future growth. I was encouraged by my colleagues' level of commitment to work together on these and other issues to better utilize resources and decrease duplication."

The ministers agreed to work together with industry to secure four per cent of global agricultural trade by 2005. Canada's agriculture and agri-food sector's record $22.3 billion in export sales last year represented slightly more than three per cent.

To help achieve this trade target, ministers agreed to extend the current federal-provincial safety nets package for another year, to March, 2000. Agreement was also given to develop a five-year safety nets policy and programs framework to guide the development of a new federal-provincial safety nets agreement for 2000-2005.

The framework would establish broad objectives for future agreements based on promoting the management of risk and reducing the impact of risk, in addition to stabilizing incomes. Provincial officials, including staff of the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture and Marketing, will be working together to develop options for the new framework.

"Safety nets are key to supporting the continued growth of the industry," said Mr. Lorraine. "In Nova Scotia we have seen a large increase in the number of producers taking advantage of the programs."

Mr. Lorraine stressed the importance of industry involvement in the development of new safety nets and noted that the department is committed to consulting with industry throughout the process.

Consultation was a key element in a number of other initiatives agreed to at the meeting, including: an assessment of wildlife and waterfowl damage to agricultural crops by working with environment and natural resource ministries at all levels and industry groups; reviewing and revising federal-provincial agreements used by the national poultry and egg marketing agencies to create more flexibility to deal with changing market conditions; developing a federal-provincial strategy to attract and increase investment in the industry and identifying means to increase internal trade between provinces.

The ministers also discussed the development of a code of conduct for the industry regarding agri-food investment incentives, and the possibility of celebrating agriculture through a national agriculture and food week beginning in 1999.

"I was encouraged by the progress made last week," said Mr. Lorraine. "We have a lot of work to do before the next meeting, but I am optimistic that we are on the right track. I am confident Nova Scotia's agriculture and food industry will benefit from these initiatives and the strong commitment shown by my federal and provincial colleagues."

The next meeting will be held in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan in July, 1999.