A recent report showing a continual decline in food production and safety under the Harper government confirms the need for the Liberal National Food Policy, Liberal Agriculture Critic Wayne Easter said today.
“The report by the Canadian Agri-food Policy Institute confirms that after five years of Harper, Canada has seen a drop in both food production and tragically, food safety, both of which presents Canada and Canadians with a major problem,” he said.
“The Conservative government has a responsibility to ensure this country not only has a significant international presence as a food producing nation, but that we have a national food policy that works for Canadians,” said Mr. Easter.
“Our farmers are the best in the world when it comes to efficient and safe food production and our consumers have the right to enjoy the benefits of the best food produced to the highest and safest standards. The Liberal National Food Policy would be good for our agriculture and agri-food sectors, and good for our overall health.”
The Liberal plan would promote healthy living, safe food, sustainable farm incomes, environmental farmland stewardship and international leadership by putting more healthy, high-quality, home-grown foods on Canadian tables.
“A National Food Policy would allow for a full debate on the necessary direction, not for our agriculture policy, but for the integration of agriculture policy with health policy,” pointed out Mr. Easter. “It would ensure that a blueprint is created with stakeholders on ensuring that Canada moves forward with a sustainable food production system, which provides the highest quality food and ensures that food produced or imported meets the most rigorous standards of safety.
“If one Googles Canada’s national food policy, the first response refers to Michael Ignatieff and the Liberal proposal for a National Food Policy announced last year. It is important that the debate begin on a National Food Policy that places this country in the forefront of the international community. The Harper government has demonstrated its inability to ensure this country remains in that position.”
