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Ag ministers kick off meeting in Vancouver

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Published: July 19, 2018

Canadian agriculture ministers began their annual meeting
in Vancouver today without Saskatchewan minister Lyle Stewart and most of the maritime ministers. | Twitter/@L_MacAulay photo

VANCOUVER — Canadian agriculture ministers began their annual meeting
here today without Saskatchewan minister Lyle Stewart and most of the
maritime ministers.

Stewart was expected to attend but his office said Wednesday he had to
cancel due to personal appointments. Officials from the province are
here, however.

Ministers are receiving updates on a number of issues including trade,
cannabis and the year-long business risk management review.

After the annual industry-ministers roundtable hosted by the Canadian
Federation of Agriculture yesterday, federal minister Lawrence MacAulay

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The federal government leans heavily on producers to “take one for the team” and risk their livelihoods without any reassurance of support.

said he wouldn’t preclude any of the discussion by offering his opinions
on those issues.

“What I can’t do as the federal minister of agriculture is come out and
indicate what we’re going to do,” he told reporters. “This works well
when everybody works together.”

CFA president Ron Bonnett said the BRM review should continue because
producers need effective risk management tools in light of the
escalating trade war.

He said there has to be some sort of contingency plan in the event the
trade war gets out of hand and said governments are encouraged to look
at the “what-ifs,” such as how to deal with direct subsidies to American
farmers or what alternative markets could be found.

MacAulay would not comment on whether additional industry support would
be forthcoming if necessary.

Ministers wrap up their meeting tomorrow with a news conference
scheduled for 12:30 Pacific time.

Contact karen.briere@producer.com

About the author

Karen Briere

Karen Briere

Karen Briere grew up in Canora, Sask. where her family had a grain and cattle operation. She has a degree in journalism from the University of Regina and has spent more than 30 years covering agriculture from the Western Producer’s Regina bureau.

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