Friesen is president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture.
Dear Santa Claus,
Well, another year has gone by and I am once again writing to you with a list of Christmas wishes from Canada’s farmers.
In a lot of ways it’s been a pretty good year for us, as far as gifts were concerned.
We got the new accounts-based income stabilization program we were asking for, and some good seed money to launch it with. Our beef producers finally got a fully open border with the United States.
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Our dairy producers got a commitment from the federal government to address milk protein powder imports. Our government is challenging U.S. subsidies. Grains commodity prices are up. The next generation of agriculture policy that we are working on in partnership with the federal government is showing a lot of promise.
Mind you there have been a few other gifts we could have done without: a high-value loonie, skyrocketing fuel and other input costs.
Life is especially hard for our pork producers now, so the first thing I’d like to ask for, Santa, is some relief for our pork industry. That should include giving producers an option for the top tier of margin coverage for the next couple of years. And while you’re at it, consider a lump of coal for certain European stockings. Those new export subsidies put them on the naughty list.
I know we ask for this every year, but I’ll ask once again. Some positive progress in World Trade Organization talks would be a welcome gift.
Another thing Canadian farmers would like this year, to match our shiny new AgriInvest program, is an AgriFlex program. The flexibility for our provinces to tailor programs to meet their unique needs within the broad national goals – that’s a gift that just keeps on giving.
The question of food labelling has been a lot on our minds this year. Canadian farmers, and Canadian consumers, are getting tired of “Product of Canada” foods that contain no Canadian-grown food. So this year we’d really like a new Grown in Canada label that supports Canadian agriculture by helping consumers choose quality Canadian food.
And as always, Santa, what farmers really want most is a year of decent productivity and profitability to keep alive the fine tradition of family farming in Canada.
So Merry Christmas to you from Canadian farmers, Santa. Have a good flight. I promise the cookies and milk waiting by the chimney will be 100 percent Canadian.
