News Release

CALGARY (GNB) – Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries Minister Rick Doucet promoted innovation by New Brunswick’s farmers during the recent federal, provincial and territorial annual conference of agriculture ministers in Calgary.

“Our producers and processors are using innovation to lead the way in a number of areas, like drone field surveillance,” said Doucet. “I am proud of the work being done in New Brunswick and pleased to have been able to promote it last week at a national level.”

This year’s conference was co-chaired by federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Lawrence MacAulay and Alberta’s Agriculture and Forestry Minister Oneil Carlier.

The ministers reaffirmed their commitment to work together to strengthen the agriculture and agri-food sector – an industry that generates more than $108 billion for the Canadian economy and employs one in eight Canadians.

At the conference, they issued the Calgary Statement – representing a consensus regarding the key priorities to develop the next agricultural policy framework, set to launch in April 2018.

The ministers will continue to collaborate with stakeholders to enhance the sector’s ability to compete, innovate and capture new opportunities. They discussed increasing market access and development; advancing investments in science, innovation and research; the need for a strong science-based regulatory framework; enhancing public trust; the continued importance of business risk management programs and systems such as supply management; and renewed emphasis on environmental sustainability and climate change. The ministers committed to preserve the integrity of the supply management system.

The Calgary Statement was developed by the ministers based on ongoing discussions with stakeholders and will guide the development of the next agricultural framework. The second phase of federal online consultation was also launched to seek comments on the statement and help inform the development of future federal, provincial and territorial agricultural programs and services.

“The Calgary Statement sets the direction for future agricultural programs and services that will help the sector continue to innovate, grow the economy, create jobs and help grow the middle class,” said MacAulay. “Along with the provinces and territories, I will continue to work with stakeholders and interested Canadians to chart the way forward for Canadian agriculture.”

The ministers discussed the importance of efficient transportation systems in order for Canada to be a reliable supplier of agriculture and agri-food products to customers around the world, and the importance of access to labour, and finding short- and long-term solutions to labour needs. They also stressed the importance of the quality of Canadian and imported products (reciprocity of standards) and the strict controls to which all foods are subject.