The election took place on Sept 20, but the suggestions, the calls from the farm organizations leading up to the election still stand.
Canada’s 7000 hog producers called on candidates across Canada to commit to policies that will support a value chain with significant growth potential.
“Canadian pork producers work hard every day to provide high quality, nutritious, affordable and sustainable protein to families in Canada and around the world,” said Rick Bergman, CPC chair. “They need parties to partner with them to deliver economic growth and prosperity for all Canadians.”
In a news release and online news conference, CPC said Canadian pork is increasingly in demand worldwide and the value chain has significant growth potential. That is why Canadian pork producers call on candidates to support policies that partner with producers, protect the herd and promote the environment.
So, as mentioned earlier, those points and suggested policies still stand and here’s hoping the newly elected government will heed.
Agriculture needs parties to partner with producers to maximize the potential of the sector by committing to:
• Fix Business Risk Management programs so they work for producers in need
• Facilitate access to skilled workers
• Defend, improve and expand market access and resolve trade barriers in China, the world’s largest pork importer.
So important, the health of Canadian pigs is one of the value chain’s greatest assets, but it is at risk. Parties should protect the herd by committing $50 million to implement the Pan-Canadian African Swine Fever action plan, establishing a Canadian Foot-and-Mouth disease vaccine bank and much more.
In Manitoba, Cam Dahl, the general manager of Manitoba Pork said Canada’s pork producers should engage with their local candidates in the federal election and meet with their elected representatives after the election.
Dahl said the federal election is always an opportunity to remind candidates and their parties of the importance of agriculture to Canada’s economy and critical issues such as trade, business risk management and animal health.

“We’ve negotiated several agreements with countries like the European Union or the Trans-Pacific Partnership, but we don’t always see the benefits because we’re getting non-tariff barriers.”
Using Europe as an example, Dahl said where Canada couldn’t export pork products into Europe the government needs to shift a little bit, to focus on removing those barriers.
China is another example; harsh and unpredictable but non-tariff barriers prevent processing plants from accessing the world’s largest pork market.
“So, we need governments to focus not just on negotiating trade agreements but ensuring the ones we have work.”
Dahl said governments need to reform business risk management to ensure that the safety nets for farmer’s work. The drought this summer shows how important that is.
Some of the other areas to work on are preventing and mitigating the potential for foreign animal disease.
“Here in Manitoba, that includes tackling the wild pig problem that really can become a reservoir for diseases and foreign animal diseases that can devastate the industry.”
The Canadian Pork Council reminds people that Canadas pork producers are the starting point for. $23.8 billion of Canada’s GDP. Over 100 000 jobs from farm to fork. Over 10 000 processing jobs in suburban and urban communities and exports more then $5 billion to over 90 countries. •
— By Harry Siemens