Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff is promising that a Liberal government would introduce a national food policy that promises more farmer-friendly support programs and more investment in food safety.
As part of a series of announcements aimed at convincing rural Canadians the Liberals are serious about regaining their support, Ignatieff said he would implement a national food policy to help farmers and consumers.
For farmers, he said there would be a rethinking of farm programs to make them more responsive to farmer income needs.
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He promised a “clean slate commitment” to work with farmers to move away from the farm policy model of historic thresholds rather than need that the Liberals introduced in the 1990s.
Ignatieff promised to restore an AgriFlex program that offers federal support for regional and provincial programs tailored to local needs and including provincial programs based on cost of production as demanded by Ontario farm groups.
And he said a Liberal government would reward farmers for their environmental performance and strengthen the popular Farm Environmental Plan program.
However, he did not commit specifically to an environmental goods and services payment program promoted by many farm groups.
The Liberal leader also said he would commit $50 million to improve the food inspection system and to make sure imported food meets Canadian food safety standards.
“We’re working with farmers to build new farm programs from the farm up and not Ottawa down,” Liberal agriculture critic Wayne Easter said.
“Farmers have told us that a new national food policy must wipe the slate clean to create regionally flexible programs by farmers, for farmers.”
At the core of the Liberal food policy would be a healthy living strategy that commits $80 million to promote local food and farmers’ markets and $40 million to help low income children have access to a more nutritious diet.
A Liberal government also would toughen labelling requirements for trans fat content.
