The Canadian Federation of Agriculture continues to pressure the federal government to offer more support for farmers as they look to mitigate impacts of COVID-19.
In a submission to the standing committee on finance, the CFA said the food supply chain is “finding it difficult, and in some circumstances, impossible to produce, process and distribute the volume of food required to feed Canadians.”
The CFA, which said it represents about 200,000 farm families, said export and trade restrictions on medical supplies, as well as labour challenges, mean “Canada must plan for a scenario without reliable access to agri-food imports.”
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CFA’s submission contends the focus on COVID-19 has been on short-term issues and there has not been enough attention paid to securing Canada’s food supply chain over the long term. That means further supply-chain disruptions could be coming.
“The federal government must adopt a strategic, whole-of-government approach to emergency preparedness for the Canadian food supply chain, working in concert with a small selection of strategically oriented, key industry associations,” reads the submission.
The CFA offered several solutions in the written submission, including the creation of an Agri-Food Emergency Fund.
The CFA said farmers are questioning their planting plans for the upcoming season, but that a “strong, public announcement” of an emergency fund would provide a clear signal that the federal government will support the food supply chain throughout the pandemic.
The farm group also suggested Ottawa prioritize personal protective equipment for agri-food workers, arguing that farms and food businesses will require priority access to non-medical grade masks and no-touch infrared thermometers to continue operations.
Other suggestions previously highlighted by the CFA were also included in the submission, such as assistance to attract labour, a stimulus to AgriInvest, and increasing AgriStability coverage.
The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association also had a submission into the committee, saying COVID-19 has affected the beef industry by creating market volatility, temporary plant closures and “rendering of the beef industry’s main risk management tool, price insurance, ineffective as it has become too expensive to use.”
They wrote that announcements made so far by the federal government to support the industry are not sufficient and propose a national set-aside program to delay the marketing of cattle when processing capacity is not available.
The CCA echoed the CFA in calling for improvements to business risk management programs and called on the federal government to deem COVID-19 a natural disaster to trigger the AgriRecovery program to compensate producers.
