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VICTORIA – Agriculture and Lands Minister Ron Cantelon and federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz have signed the Growing Forward bilateral and contribution agreements, making way for new agricultural programs for farmers in B.C. under the Growing Forward framework agreement.
Growing
Forward is a national agriculture framework to co-ordinate federal and
provincial agriculture policy. Federal, provincial, and territorial governments
are delivering $1.3 billion to Canadian farm families from 2008 to 2013.
“Farmers expect all levels of government to work together to drive Canadian agriculture forward, and this agreement is making that happen,” said Ritz. “Growing Forward delivers stable and profitable programs that work for farmers. The agreements we have signed today will kick-start the rollout of these essential programs in B.C.”
“These agreements will facilitate a simpler
and more accessible delivery of programs and services to producers,” said
Cantelon. “Stakeholders were clear that they wanted programs that were focused
on results. The Province is committed to working with industry in the design of
programs that will help us build a competitive and innovative agriculture
sector, respond to the priorities that matter to Canadians and take a hands-on
approach to managing risks in the sector.”
The five-year Growing Forward agreement will deliver $475 million in B.C. to help provide income stability and insurance against losses through Business Risk Management programs. An additional $78 million will be invested in a number of new non-Business Risk Management programs designed to increase competition and innovation in agriculture, and build a sector that contributes to society’s priorities and proactively manages risk. This funding will also enable B.C. to continue the delivery of the Environmental Farm Planning Program, Food Safety Initiatives and a limited On-farm Food Safety program.
The Government of Canada and Province of B.C. have been working with farmers and processors every step of the way to develop the Growing Forward framework, and to develop programs that are tailored with the flexibility to meet B.C.’s diverse regional requirements.
For a complete list of Growing Forward programs in B.C., visit
www.gov.bc.ca/al/ or www.agr.gc.ca/GrowingForward.
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Media contact: |
Media Relations |
Liz Bicknell Communications Director Ministry of Agriculture and Lands 250 356-2862 250 213-3072 (cell) |
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Meagan Murdoch |
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For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca. |
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