B.C. Spends Least On Agriculture Despite B.C. Liberal Promises
VICTORIA - NDP agriculture critic Corky Evans says B.C.’s recently released agriculture plan won’t succeed as long as the province spends the least of any government in Canada on the agri-food sector.
"Two weeks ago the B.C. Fruit Growers Association called upon the Campbell government to move, at least, to the national average of support for the agriculture industry,” said Evans, the MLA for Nelson-Creston. “Then shortly thereafter, the Minister of Agriculture, Pat Bell, released B.C.’s Agriculture Plan, which made no reference to the fact that we are the worst province in Canada for funding farming and farm programs."
Corky Evans
B.C.’s current support for farming support programs is only one quarter of any other province in Canada. B.C. currently spends only five per cent of provincial agricultural GDP on agricultural promotion where all other provinces spend 15 per cent.
"The agriculture plan is full of good intentions, however come tomorrow, when the Provincial Budget is tabled, they won’t be worth much without the necessary funding,” said Evans. “If the budget leaves the issues raised in the agriculture plan unfunded, and if we continue to remain the least supportive province in Canada for agriculture, then the Plan itself is useless."
In the agriculture plan, Minister Bell acknowledges that farmers want a B.C. brand. "The Minister has said the Crown will put money into a brand comparable to the Buy B.C. program, however he fails to say where the money will come from, who will shape the brand or what the brand will be," said Evans.
“Two years ago Investment Agriculture did a study and found that farmers and processors want the Buy B.C. program reinstated because it worked,” said Evans. “The Buy B.C. brand already has millions of dollars invested in consumer loyalty and I, along with farmers, continue the call to reinstate the program because it makes good economic sense. ”
“The Minister of Agriculture has finally put forward a plan which acknowledges many of the issues that matter to farmers," said Evans. "The real test will be to see if farming, farmland, the local food movement and farmers themselves, matter to his government tomorrow."
MLA Corky Evans has an open Facebook group, Buy BC, http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8881865748&ref=mf dedicated to supporting farmers and the local food movement in British Columbia. A letter addressing the agriculture plan has been posted to the group's discussion board.