Beef Business 2022 Bibeau Interview

Beef Business ‘

Saskatchewan’s largest circulated industry magazine Saskatchewan`s Premiere Cattlecattle Industry Publication

Starting 2022 with the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

JANUARY 2022

BEEF BUSINESS FEATURE Starting 2022 with the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food FEDERAL PRIORITIES Beef Business (BB): With a renewed mandate this fall for your government, what are your priorities for the livestock industry for the next four years?

Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau (HMCB): Farmers and food producers are vitally important to the local economies of communities across Canada. The success of Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector is a top priority for our Government and we will continue supporting producers, processors, and other agri-food businesses so they can continue to provide for Canadians during this challenging time.

The Government of Canada is working with provincial and territorial (PT) governments to develop the next agricultural policy framework, which will continue to support the sustainable and competitive agriculture and agri-food sector.

The recent Economic and Fiscal Update identified that Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), working with Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion Canada, and in partnership with provinces and territories, employers, unions and workers, will develop a sector-specific

Agricultural Labour Strategy to address persistent and chronic labour shortages in farming and food processing in the short and long term.

And, as part of our vision for a sustainable agricultural for Canada, we are working to increase support for farmers to develop and adopt agricultural management practices to reduce emissions, store carbon in healthy soil and enhance resiliency; triple funding for clean technology on farms, including for renewable energy, precision agriculture and energy efficiency; and work with farmers and stakeholders to reduce methane and fertilizer emissions in the agricultural sector.

Overall, our Government will support sustainability and competitiveness of the agriculture and agri-food sector, support efficiency and climate-resiliency in the agriculture and food sector, including the livestock sector, to strengthen food security, secure supply chains, and ensure the industry has access to the labour it needs to continue to provide its highquality products for Canadians and those around the world.

BB: From your perspective, what are the biggest opportunities and challenges facing the Canadian livestock industry going into 2022?

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The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

HMCB: Over the last several years, Canadian farmers have faced unprecedented environmental challenges. They are on the front lines of climate change, and the first to feel its effects. In the face of these challenges, Canadian farmers continue to be good stewards of the land. Supporting sustainable agriculture is the Government’s number one priority for our sector. Our work builds on the existing efforts of farmers to protect the environment and reduce

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BEEF BUSINESS FEATURE "Supporting sustainable agriculture is the Government’s number one priority for our sector. " greenhouse gases. Our government has invested $550 million over the last year to support farmers in the fight against climate change. This includes the Agricultural Clean Technology Program, the Agricultural Climate Solutions’ On-Farm Climate Action Fund and the Living Laboratories Initiative.

The Government of Canada is committed to supporting Canadian farmers and industry partners who are taking action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, store carbon in healthy soil, and make their operations more sustainable, productive, and competitive. For example, to reduce fertilizer emissions, we have set a reduction target of 30 per cent below 2020 levels by 2030, and will continue working with fertilizer manufacturers, agricultural stakeholders, farmers, provinces and territories to develop voluntary approaches to meet that target.

There is sufficient evidence that efficiency gains are possible through wider use of advanced fertilizer products and beneficial management practices, resulting in both economic benefits for farmers and environmental benefits for society. This is an important opportunity.

Canada’s agricultural sector has also

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experienced persistent and chronic labour shortages in farming and food processing. As mentioned, we will work in partnership with provinces and territories, employers, unions and workers, develop a sector-specific Agricultural Labour Strategy to address persistent and chronic labour shortages in farming and food processing in the short and long term.

DROUGHT BB: If the drought conditions persist into the spring of 2022, is the Government of Canada prepared to provide additional drought assistance to livestock producers?

HMCB: Our Government worked rapidly together with provincial governments to roll out $825 million in direct financial support for livestock producers facing the impacts of the worst drought in 60 years.

This funding is continuing to roll out in the different drought-affected provinces and has already made payments to thousands of livestock producers. They told me what a relief it was for them, at a critical moment for their business and their families.

The Government is committed to ensuring producers have the tools they need to manage the risks they face. Producers will continue to have access to Business Risk Management (BRM) programs, including AgriStability and AgriInsurance, which can provide significant assistance to livestock producers affected by drought.

Federal officials will continue to monitor the drought conditions into the spring and throughout the growing season. In the event that drought conditions continue into the 2022 growing season, officials will evaluate the responses of existing BRM programs and the potential need for additional tools to help manage the drought.

"Our Government worked rapidly together with provincial governments to roll out $825 million in direct financial support for livestock producers facing the impacts of the worst drought in 60 years."

BB: Is AAFC considering any amendments to the Livestock Tax Deferral Program to include all classes of cattle and give producers more flexibility in self-declaring?

HMCB: The Livestock Tax Deferral (LTD) is a provision under the Income Tax Act. The provision provides a taxable benefit to producers, so it is important that the criteria be defined and applied consistently among livestock producers. The LTD provision provides owners of breeding livestock in designated areas, who are forced to sell all or part of their breeding herd due to drought, with a one-year tax deferral

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BEEF BUSINESS FEATURE on part of the income from those sales.

This way, the proceeds of the sale will be available to partially offset the acquisition costs of replacement breeding livestock.

The guidelines for the Livestock Tax Deferral specify that drought and excess moisture are to be evaluated using defined boundaries within a province.

The guidelines also require that forage yields must be less than 50 per cent of the long-term average yield to designate regions for Livestock Tax Deferral purposes. As a consequence, self-declaration of eligibility is not an option unless the defined eligibility criteria are met by each rural municipality.

Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) BB: What are your priorities for the Next Policy Framework (NPF)?

HMCB: In November 2021, Provincial and Territorial (PT) Ministers and I agreed on the five priority areas for the Next Policy Framework, which will take effect on April 1, 2023, and follow the current Canadian Agricultural Partnership. These five priority areas, as outlined in the Guelph Statement are: climate change and the environment; science, research and innovation; market development and trade; building sector capacity, growth and competitiveness; resiliency and public trust.

We also agreed on a shared vision for the next framework. The vision states that “Canada is recognized as a world leader in sustainable agriculture and agri-food production and drives forward to 2028 from a solid foundation of regional strengths and diversity, as well as the strong leadership of the Provinces and Territories, in order to rise to the climate change challenge, to expand new markets and trade while meeting the expectations of consumers, and to feed Canadians and a growing global population.”

The Next Policy Framework will reflect the principles of sustainable development, allowing the agriculture and agri-food sector to meet the needs of today, and

grow for tomorrow, without compromising the needs of future generations.

BB: Are there any discussions about developing new or enhancing existing business risk management programs to be more responsive for livestock producers?

HMCB: The Government of Canada, along with provincial and territorial governments, continue to work to improve the suite of Business Risk Management programs.

In November, PT Ministers and I discussed potential longer-term changes to BRM programming, to ensure that producers have a suite of programs they can rely on when they face extraordinary situations. Improving BRM programs is a top priority for the federal government as confirmed in my mandate letter from the Prime Minister.

"In March 2021, PT Ministers and I agreed to remove the Reference Margin Limit (RML) for AgriStability, which could pay up to an additional $95 million to producers, nationally. This change helps to simplify the program and helps farmers in need by increasing the level of support for agricultural operations with lower allowable expenses."

AgriStability provides support when producers experience a large decline in farming income for reasons such as production loss, increased costs and market conditions. In March 2021, PT Ministers and I agreed to remove the Reference Margin Limit (RML) for AgriStability, which could pay up to an additional $95 million to producers, nationally. This change helps to simplify the program and helps farmers in need by increasing the level of support for agricultural operations with lower allowable expenses. It is an important

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step towards making the program easier to understand, more bankable, more accessible, and fairer for some sectors, which might have been left out of the program under the previous rules.

PT Ministers and I will continue to meet and discuss the details of what will become the next agricultural policy framework that will replace the current five-year, $3 billion Canadian Agricultural Partnership, which expires on March 31, 2023.

BB: Research, innovation and technology transfer are key drivers to fight climate change and bring new innovations to Canada’s food systems.

What are your priorities for research and technology transfer in the NPF? HMCB: Our Government will continue to invest substantially in science, because we know the potential of scientific innovations to improve the lives of farmers and the environment we live in.

Science, research and innovation will continue to be one of the five priority areas for the Next Policy Framework.

The Guelph Statement outlined the need to invest in research to support key challenges such as climate change adaptation and greenhouse gas mitigation, and to capitalize on opportunities such as new markets.

PT Ministers and I also agreed to continue investing in extension services and knowledge exchange and transfer, to ensure that science investments reach individual farmers and businesses. Under the current $3 billion Canadian Agricultural Partnership ($2 billion in FPT cost-shared strategic initiatives and $1 billion for federal activities and programs) federal, provincial, and territorial governments spend approximately one-third of all their costshared dollars on science and innovation measures. This includes funding for agri-technology, clean technology development and adoption, farmer and industry-led research, knowledge transfer, agronomy, and much more.

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BEEF BUSINESS FEATURE BB: Is the Government of Canada planning to make the Livestock Price Insurance Program a permanent program?

HMCB: As with the current suite of BRM programs, federal and provincial officials will review the program and examine how it can best support livestock producers.

BB: Is the Government of Canada considering cross compliance (sustainability certification) for producers to be able to participate in BRM programming?

HMCB: Business Risk Management programs are often the first line of support for producers facing climate threats. Governments are currently developing options to integrate climate risk management, environmental practices and climate readiness within the suite of BRM programs.

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE BB: Ranchers play a very important role in maintaining and protecting our remaining grasslands including those with species at risk critical habitat. If policies are implemented that drive ranchers out of business, the grasslands are at risk of being broken for crop production. This will have an adverse impact on carbon sequestration and environmental protection. What is the Government of Canada going to do to protect ranchers and grasslands?

HMCB: Canada’s hard-working farmers and ranchers have a solid track record of using beneficial management practices, innovation and new technologies to preserve and protect the natural resources on which they depend. Grasslands are an important ecosystem in Canada and remain threatened by the development and conversion to other land uses.

The Government of Canada has programs and funding available to support the adoption of sustainable and climate-smart production practices to help farmers and

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ranchers improve the sustainability of their operations, and manage production and environmental risks.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada supports the development of new programs like Agricultural Climate Solutions, which can be accessed by producers to support different objectives, including the preservation of grasslands and managed pastures. In addition, the Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund (NSCSF) is a $631 million, 10year fund to support projects that restore and enhance wetlands, peatlands and grasslands to store and capture carbon.

NSCSF activities will focus on three main program objectives to sequester carbon effectively, including: restoring degraded ecosystems; improving land management practices, especially in agriculture, forestry and urban development sectors; and conserving carbon-rich ecosystems at high risk of conversion to other uses that would release their stored carbon.

These federal programs complement ongoing work under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, which provides up to $438 million in cost-shared funding with the provinces and territories to help producers address soil and water conservation, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change.

BB: Canadian livestock producers believe we are a part of the solution to climate change. How will you work with your colleagues and the livestock sector to ensure we can work collaboratively on the achievement and recognition of these goals?

HMCB: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada continues to work with the livestock sector, provinces and territories, and other government departments to ensure Canada’s food system is resilient and innovative, sustains our environment and supports our economy.

We recognize the ongoing efforts of livestock producers who have become leaders in sustainable agriculture, thanks

to innovations in plant and livestock genetics, precision farming technologies, and farm practices like cover crops and reduced tillage. Livestock producers are also innovating to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and build resilience to the impacts of climate change. For example, GHG emissions associated with animal production accounted for less than five per cent of Canada’s total emissions in 2017, an emissions level which has been declining since 2005.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations concluded that the carbon footprint of Canadian beef is one of the smallest in the world, further suggesting that global emissions from the livestock sector could be reduced by 30 per cent through a wider use of existing best practices and technologies similar to the ones currently used by Canadian livestock producers.

Farmers and ranchers have made great gains in sustainable agriculture, but now is the time to double down our efforts to improve our resilience to the effects of climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions within the sector. With its Strengthened Climate Plan, our Government is committed to its 2030 GHG emissions reduction target and putting Canada on a path to prosper in a net-zero emissions future by 2050.

The plan has 64 measures including enhanced productivity and the accelerated adoption of clean technology in the agriculture sector. This includes $165.7 million for the renewal and expansion of the current Agriculture Clean Technology Program that supports research, development and adoption of clean technologies.

Our Government is also investing more than $4 billion over the next 10 years to establish a Natural Climate Solutions (NCS) Fund and to support activities to build a more resilient economy and a healthier, greener future. The NCS Fund includes Agricultural Climate Solutions, with the $200-million On Farm Climate Action Fund that will support farmers

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BEEF BUSINESS FEATURE in adopting beneficial management practices that store carbon and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the $185 million Living Labs Initiative, which is a 10-year program that will help develop and implement better farming practices so farmland can increase the amount of stored carbon and reduce GHG emissions.

BB: How does the Government of Canada define sustainable livestock production?

HMCB: Farmers and food businesses across Canada work hard to provide sustainable, high quality, nutritious food here at home, and around the world.

Most of Canada’s agriculture emissions are from biological processes, including from nutrients being applied to soils, and livestock digestion. Therefore, continued innovation, development and adoption of on-farm climate-smart practices and technologies have the potential to improve efficiencies, achieve further reductions, and increase carbon storage.

The Government of Canada has dedicated programs and funding to support the sector in meeting these challenges and is committed to helping farmers and producers protect our environment and maintain the strength and competitiveness of our agricultural businesses and economy. This includes ensuring livestock production throughout the country is sustainable.

PROCESSING BB: The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted vulnerabilities in the Canadian livestock processing system.

Is the Government of Canada exploring ways to address these vulnerabilities?

HMCB: COVID-19 caused significant changes and adaptation in Canada’s food system. As a result, Canadian food producers, processors and manufacturers have taken on unexpected and exceptional activities associated with risk-mitigation measures to be able to maintain Canada’s food production. That is why the Government of Canada took steps to ensure the resilience of the food supply chain and to provide support to keep the agriculture sector strong, including: •

•

The Emergency Processing Fund, which provided $87.5 million to helping food processors implement measures to protect the health and safety of workers and their families in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with an emphasis on supporting meat processing facilities in Canada. The Fund also supported facility upgrades to help strengthen Canada’s food supply.

The $142-million Mandatory Isolation Support for Temporary Foreign Workers Program (MISTFWP), which helped with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on food supply in Canada by assisting the farming,

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fish harvesting, food production and processing sectors with some of the incremental costs associated with the mandatory 14-day isolation period as well as costs associated with the three-day hotel quarantine imposed under the Quarantine Act on temporary foreign workers upon entering into Canada.

In addition, the recent Economic and Fiscal Update identified that AAFC, working with Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion Canada, and in partnership with provinces and territories, employers, unions and workers, will develop a sector-specific Agricultural Labour Strategy to address persistent and chronic labour shortages in farming and food processing in the short and long term.

The agriculture and agri-food sector will undoubtedly continue to be a pillar of Canada’s economic recovery and the federal government will be there to support it. As an essential service, it continued to run throughout the pandemic, and has fared better than other, hard-hit sectors ― meaning it is in a solid position to lead the recovery. It is the largest manufacturing sector in Canada and present in all regions of the country.

The vision for the future is for Canada to continue to be a world leader in sustainable agriculture and agri-food by helping our entrepreneurs meet rapidly changing consumer expectations and

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BEEF BUSINESS FEATURE commercial realities that are increasingly unpredictable. Canada’s food system will be exemplary, both socially and environmentally.

BB: The U.S. livestock processing sector is currently experiencing significant growth and investment with the announcement of a dozen new medium to large beef processing facilities. Why is similar investment not happening in the Canadian processing sector and what needs to be done to attract additional investment?

HMCB: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant disruptions to Canada’s food system, while demonstrating the need for more diversified food processing capacity. As a result, Canadian livestock producers and meat processors have taken on unexpected and exceptional activities to manage health and safety during the pandemic.

The Government of Canada remains open to discuss how we could better support the processing capacity in Canada, respond to challenges and opportunities with the current system and ensure cattle producers and processors are competitive and meet domestic and global market needs. Under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, provinces and territories have developed programming which makes available cost-shared funding and resources to provincially-regulated meat

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businesses to address food safety, animal welfare, biosecurity and environmental issues. In addition, to address persistent and chronic labour shortages in farming and food processing in the short and long term, the Government of Canada is committed to developing a sector-specific Agricultural Labour Strategy.

COVID

In February 2017, the Minister of Finance’s Advisory Council on Economic Growth identified Canada’s agri-food sector as having great potential to be a driver of economic growth for the nation. In Budget 2017, the Government of Canada presented a challenge to the sector by setting a goal of $75 billion in exports by 2025. After assessing global and domestic trends and growth opportunities, the Economic Strategy Table on Agri-Food set a more ambitious target of $85 billion in agriculture, agri-food and seafood exports by 2025 (32 per cent increase from $64.6 billion in 2017).

HMCB: The work of the agriculture sector is critically important to the country, and we are supporting producers, processors, and other agri-food businesses so they can continue to provide for Canadians during this challenging time. The Speech from the Throne commits the Government to move to more targeted support in response to the pandemic, including extended and added support for industries that continue to struggle. We will create the conditions for farmers and the entire agriculture sector to continue to grow sustainably.

In acknowledging the importance of the Canadian market, it was equally important to set a target for the domestic market at $140 billion in sales of agriculture and food processing products by 2025. These growth targets will position Canada as a global leader in high-value markets and reclaim previous lost domestic opportunities. Achieving these targets will require bold action in regulations, infrastructure and market readiness, supported by innovation and a future fit workforce.

BB: As we come out of the pandemic, economic recovery will be important.

How do you see the government working to support sectors that are able to boost Canada’s economic recovery, including the livestock sector?

The Government is committed to build a more resilient, sustainable, and competitive economy with a focus on innovation and green jobs. Through strategic investments, we will help grow our economy and will benefit all sectors, including agriculture and agri-food.

As discussed at the recent federal, provincial, territorial meetings in Guelph, Ontario, we will build sector capacity and growth through realizing the potential of value-added agri-food and agri-

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BEEF BUSINESS FEATURE products. We will also support sustainable agriculture and economic growth by creating the conditions for Canadian businesses to meet evolving challenges of the interconnected domestic and global marketplace.

TRADE BB: Many of Canada’s commitments ― like fertilizer reduction, carbon taxes and clean fuel standards ― will make it much more costly for ranchers and all agricultural producers. Those ranchers and producers are price takers and can’t pass the costs down to customers. How can we continue to ensure that policies support our industry in terms of their ability to compete in global markets?

HMCB: The Government of Canada has set an emissions-reduction target from fertilizer use of 30 per cent below 2020 levels by 2030 and will continue working with fertilizer manufacturers, agricultural stakeholders, farmers, provinces and territories to develop voluntary approaches to meet that target, while maximizing crop yields in a sustainable way.

"It is estimated that farmers would receive $100 million for the 2021-22 fuel charge year. Returning the proceeds from the price on pollution directly to farmers will amount to $221 million over the next three years" The Government is striving to meet the emissions reduction target through voluntary measures, such as adopting new products and employing beneficial management practices, resulting in both economic benefits for farmers and environmental benefits for society.

In addition to this commitment, investments in programs such as the $165 million Agricultural Clean Technology Program, the $185 million Agriculture Climate

Solutions – Living Labs Initiative, and the $200 million On-Farm Climate Action Fund, aim to help farmers adopt new, beneficial management practices and clean technologies to boost productivity and lower emissions. These federal programs complement ongoing work with provinces and territories under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, which provides up to $438 million in cost-shared funding with the provinces and territories to help producers address soil and water conservation, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and adapt to climate change.

Recognizing that many farmers use natural gas and propane in their operations, the Government proposes to return proceeds from the price on pollution directly to farming businesses in involuntary backstop jurisdictions (currently Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta) via refundable tax credits, starting for the 2021-22 fuel charge year.

Through Budget 2021 and reiterated in the Economic and Fiscal Update, the Government announced or confirmed its intention to return a portion of the proceeds from the price on pollution directly to farmers in backstop jurisdictions through a refundable tax credit, beginning in 2021-22. It is estimated that farmers would receive $100 million for the 2021-22 fuel charge year. Returning the proceeds from the price on pollution directly to farmers will amount to $221 million over the next three years.

The Government is also developing a Federal GHG Offset System to provide additional compliance options under the federal Output-Based Pricing System. Offsets create a further incentive to reduce emissions across Canada, and can generate additional economic opportunities for the agricultural sector.

The Federal GHG Offset System will provide opportunities for farmers to generate offset credits through the adoption of sustainable agricultural land management activities that are not currently considered to be common

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practice. The Clean Fuel Standard will also encourage more crop-based biofuels to be blended into gas products.

BB: Trade is a key component to the beef sector with over 50 per cent of Canadian beef exported. There are a few trade negotiations coming up, including the UK and ASEAN. It is very important the beef sector gets equal access to markets that enter Canada as well. Where do you see trade as a priority of the government and how can we work together to see fair negotiations that will benefit Canada’s economy?

HMCB: Agricultural trade is an important driver of Canada’s economy and is a priority for the Government of Canada. In 2020, agriculture, agri-food, and seafood accounted for $74 billion in exports and contributed almost $20.3 billion to our balance of trade. The Government of Canada is committed to diversifying trade and investment with key markets around the world and supporting an effective, open, inclusive and rules-based global trading system.

In future free trade agreements, including with the U.K. and ASEAN, Canada will be seeking ambitious outcomes, including improved market access for agricultural goods, such as beef. As in all trade negotiations, the Government of Canada will only pursue outcomes that are in the best interest of Canadians. We will continue to consult and work closely with the Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector as negotiations progress.

BB: How does the Government of Canada plan to address interprovincial trade barriers?

HMCB: The Government of Canada is strongly committed to working collaboratively with provincial and territorial partners as interprovincial cooperation is critical to reduce trade barriers. A stronger domestic economy will help to create jobs, expand access to Canadian goods and services, and build a more prosperous economy.

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BEEF BUSINESS FEATURE At the federal-provincial-territorial Committee on Internal Trade Ministerial meeting in December 2021, Minister Dominic LeBlanc reiterated the Government of Canada’s commitment to advancing internal trade priorities in support of Canada’s economic recovery efforts. During the meeting, Ministers endorsed accelerated timelines to finalize negotiations of non-medical cannabis and financial services into the Canadian Free Trade Agreement, the establishment of a pan-Canadian implementation task force for advancing interprovincial trade in alcohol, and strengthening labour mobility efforts in Canada. Minister LeBlanc called for greater ambition and collaborative efforts to reduce barriers to trade, and demonstrated federal leadership by committing to do all he can to remove any remaining federal barriers.

the federal system, facilitating a better understanding of the domestic regulatory environment.

Through Budget 2021, the Government of Canada also announced a suite of federal actions on internal trade, including a commitment of $21 million over three years to reduce internal trade barriers and to create a repository of open and accessible pan-Canadian internal trade data to identify barriers. There are important economic opportunities with enhancing trade in the agriculture sector, and we are working collaboratively with provinces and territories to advance this work on several fronts.

BB: Country of Origin Labelling (COOL) is gaining momentum in U.S. Is the Government of Canada in discussions with U.S. on COOL and are you prepared to use the retaliatory powers granted to Canada by the World Trade Organization (WTO)?

Since the Canadian Free Trade Agreement came into effect in 2017, we have worked collaboratively to develop harmonized standards in the transportation and trucking sectors to ensure greater free flow of goods across Canada, as well as established clearer rules for organic products and the elimination of duplication for food oversight and safety.

Our government will continue to stand up for Canada’s beef industry ― and the workers whose jobs it supports ― and firmly oppose any new proposals from U.S. to resurrect mandatory country-oforigin labelling for beef and pork.

The Government of Canada’s leadership in bringing the Safe Food for Canadians Act and Regulations into effect, ensures greater regulatory harmonization in the agri-food sector. This includes the launch of the domestic comparability assessment tool for provinces and territories to assess their food safety systems against

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Also, in 2019, the Government acted decisively when it removed the only remaining federal barrier to the interprovincial movement of alcoholic beverages. Minister LeBlanc welcomed the efforts of provinces and territories that have taken steps toward directto-consumer sales and has called on remaining counterparts to take similar steps towards addressing long-standing trade barriers in this sector.

The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced new challenges for Canadians, and now more than ever, it is imperative that we have interprovincial cooperation to eliminate barriers to trade and strengthen the Canadian economy. ​

HMCB: The WTO ruled in 2015 that mandatory COOL measures in US discriminated against Canadian exporters, and we expect U.S. to continue abiding to this ruling and its WTO obligations.

CLOSING BB: Is there anything you would like highlight to our readers to conclude this interview?

HMCB: The Government of Canada’s vision for agriculture is to have a world-leading food system that is environmentally and economicallysustainable, and socially-responsible.

Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector is a significant contributor to the Canadian economy, driving $143 billion of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP), one in eight jobs, over $66 billion of our exports and almost $15 billion of our trade surplus. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, the sector outperformed the Canadian economy in 2020, increasing by 7.6 per cent.

The Government continues to explore ways to support a socially-responsible and inclusive agriculture and agri-food sector by encouraging the participation of underrepresented and marginalized groups across the value chain, including women, youth, and members of Indigenous and visible minority communities.

We are committed to supporting Canadian farmers and industry partners who are taking action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, sequester carbon, and make their operations more sustainable, productive and competitive. This includes investments such as the Agriculture Climate Solutions ― $185 million Living Labs initiative, the $200 million OnFarm Climate Action Fund, and the $165 million Agricultural Clean Technology program that aim to help farmers adopt new, beneficial management practices and clean technologies to boost productivity and lower emissions.

The Government’s significant investments in agriculture clearly demonstrate our vision of agriculture as a key driver for economic recovery, and a key partner for the fight against climate change. Together, we are creating the conditions for farmers and the entire agriculture and agrifood sector to continue to prosper.

LINKS AND RESOURCES Economic and Fiscal Update https://www.budget.gc.ca/efu-meb/2021/ home-accueil-en.html Agricultural Clean Technology Program https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/ agricultural-programs-and-services/ agricultural-clean-technology-programadoption-stream

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BEEF BUSINESS FEATURE Agricultural Climate Solutions https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/ agriculture-and-environment/agriculturalclimate-solutions On-Farm Climate Action Fund https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/ agriculture-and-environment/agriculturalclimate-solutions

our-department/key-departmentalinitiatives/canadian-agriculturalpartnership

agricultural-programs-and-services/ agricultural-climate-solutions-farmclimate-action-fund-0

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations http://www.fao.org/3/i3461e/i3461e.pdf

Living Labs Initiative https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/ agricultural-science-and-innovation/ living-laboratories-initiative

Living Laboratories Initiative https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/ agricultural-science-and-innovation/ living-laboratories-initiative

Strengthened Climate Plan https://www.canada.ca/en/services/ environment/weather/climatechange/ climate-plan/climate-plan-overview/ healthy-environment-healthy-economy. html

Guelph Statement https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/aboutour-department/key-departmentalinitiatives/meetings-federal-provincialand-territorial-ministers-agriculture/ guelph-statement

Strengthened Climate Plan https://www.canada.ca/en/services/ environment/weather/climatechange/ climate-plan/climate-plan-overview/ healthy-environment-healthy-economy. html

Mandate Letter from the Prime Minister https://pm.gc.ca/en/mandateletters/2021/12/16/minister-agricultureand-agri-food-mandate-letter

Agriculture Clean Technology Program https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/ agricultural-programs-and-services/ agricultural-clean-technology-programadoption-stream

Canadian Agricultural Partnership https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/aboutour-department/key-departmentalinitiatives/canadian-agriculturalpartnership Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund https://www.canada.ca/en/environmentclimate-change/services/environmentalfunding/programs/nature-smart-climatesolutions-fund.html Canadian Agricultural Partnership https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/about-

Natural Climate Solutions https://www.canada.ca/en/campaign/ natural-climate-solutions.html Agricultural Climate Solutions https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/ agriculture-and-environment/agriculturalclimate-solutions On Farm Climate Action Fund https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/

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Economic and Fiscal Update https://www.budget.gc.ca/efu-meb/2021/ home-accueil-en.html Advisory Council on Economic Growth https://www.budget.gc.ca/aceg-ccce/ home-accueil-en.html Economic Strategy Table on Agri-Food https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/098.nsf/ eng/00022.html Agriculture Climate Solutions – Living Labs Initiative https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/ agriculture-and-environment/agriculturalclimate-solutions/agricultural-climatesolutions-working-together Federal GHG Offset System https://www.canada.ca/en/environmentclimate-change/services/climate-change/ pricing-pollution-how-it-will-work/ output-based-pricing-system/federalgreenhouse-gas-offset-system.html Clean Fuel Standard https://www.canada.ca/en/environmentclimate-change/services/managingpollution/energy-production/fuelregulations/clean-fuel-standard.html

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