Farmers Matter to Host Election Town Hall

Event Details

Time: April 21, 2011 from 1pm to 3pm
Location: Stratford Rotary Complex
City/Town: Stratford, Ontario
Website or Map: http://www.farmersmatter.ca
Event Type: election, town, hall
Organized By: Farmers Matter
Latest Activity: Apr 18, 2011

Export to Outlook or iCal (.ics)

Event Description

Farmers Matter encourages farmers to engage politicians, learn platforms and vote for the party that best supports agriculture

Farmers Matter will host an election version of its Town Hall meeting out of the Stratford Rotary Complex in Stratford, Ontario on Thursday April 21, 2011 from 1:00p.m. to 3:00p.m.

Following on the heels of last November's phenomenally successful Town Hall Meeting with the Honourable Ralph Goodale and the Honourable Wayne Easter among local MPP's, farm organization representatives, and over 800 audience members, this meeting will do what Farmers Matter does best: raise awareness as to the importance of Canadian agriculture.

With 22 seats up for grabs in southwest Ontario, Wayne Easter, Liberal Agriculture & Agri-food Critic, will be at the Town Hall to present Canada's Liberal Party agricultural platform.

The Town Hall will offer attendees the opportunity to ask Mr. Easter questions concerning the Liberal party's direction regarding risk management programs, inter-provincial trade, food safety and labeling, and the sustainability of Canadian agriculture. Perth-Wellington Liberal candidate Bob McTavish will also be attending, along with fellow Liberal candidates from adjoining rural ridings. Farmers Matter is encouraging farmers and consumers alike to sign their on-line pledge (www.farmersmatter.ca/petition) indicating they will vote for the party that best supports agriculture.

Farmers Matter was created in July of 2010 in order that producers could voice their concerns and ideas for policy change that will support the sustainability of Canadian agriculture as well as offer solutions to short-term risks currently affecting their respective industries. Furthermore, they are looking to develop symbiotic relationships with the consumers who purchase their products by ensuring a safe, affordable and consistent supply of Canadian grown meat and produce.

Comment Wall

Comment

RSVP for Farmers Matter to Host Election Town Hall to add comments!

Join Ontario Agriculture

Attending (2)

View All

Welcome to
Ontario Agriculture

Sign Up
or Sign In

Agriculture Headlines from Farms.com Canada East News - click on title for full story

Depopulation could destabilize food systems

It’s difficult to argue that climate change isn’t the most pressing threat to our agri-food sector. Farmers, processors, distributors, retailers and transporters have all been forced to adapt in real time to extreme weather events, shifting growing seasons and volatile conditions. From droughts to floods to wildfires, climate change has tested the resilience of every link in the food supply chain. Yet, for all the challenges the sector has faced – and will continue to face – due to climate pressures, it has managed to cope reasonably well. Investments in technology, new crop varieties, smarter logistics and infrastructure upgrades have helped absorb many of the shocks. But there is another looming threat – quieter, slower, and far more difficult to reverse – that few in the industry appear prepared for: depopulation. At its core, the food industry is built on one assumption: that there will always be more mouths to feed. Growth in population has long been a proxy for market growth.

Labour shortages create dragnet for agri-food

Canadian agriculture and agri-food consistently punch above their weight. Agriculture and agri-food contribute $111 billion per year – more than $30 million per day – to the Canadian economy, or over six per cent of our GDP. However, there are still more than 16,000 job vacancies on Canadian farms, and this labour crisis is resulting in avoidable financial strain. With that considered, you would think that smoothing out the regulatory red tape – especially on access to labour for farmers – should be highest priority for federal and provincial governments when the shortage is both critical and chronic, proven with many years of data and evidence. When COVID-19 challenged supply chains, action was taken to secure our food supply, but this level of urgency and priority for the sector appears to have come to an end. Producers and workers need new solutions Agriculture is theoretically prioritized in the immigration regulations, but it continues to be squeezed by on all sides. Agriculture

More…

Badges | Report an Issue | Terms of Service