A visit to Manitoba, which was originally part of a House of Commons Agriculture Committee tour to consult farmers on the next agricultural policy framework, is no longer in the committee’s plans, says Keystone Agricultural Producers president Dan Mazier.
“We understand that committee members were originally scheduled to visit us, but plans have changed – and Manitoba will no longer be included,” said Mazier. “This is very disappointing because these consultations are extremely important, and the views of individual Manitoba farmers should be heard.
“Manitoba is one of the country’s major agricultural areas with 15,000 farms and a primary production output of 12 per cent of the Canadian total. These are not insignificant numbers – and I urge members of the Agriculture Committee to include us in the November tour.”
Mazier also noted the agribusiness industry in Manitoba recently earned revenues of $10.7 billion, while the Conference Board of Canada predicts a 5.7 per cent increase in provincial agricultural activities in 2016.
