Canadian Agricultural Partnership to Grow Industry and Promote Food Self-sufficiency in Newfoundland and Labrador
News release
May 10, 2018 - Reidville, Newfoundland and Labrador - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Gudie Hutchings, Member of Parliament for Long Range Mountains, on behalf of the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and AgriFood, and the Honourable Dwight Ball, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador announced details of programming under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership today to support growth in the agriculture and agrifoods sector in Newfoundland and Labrador.
They were joined by the Honourable Gerry Byrne, Provincial Minister of Fisheries and Land Resources, and Merv Wiseman, President of the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Agriculture, for the announcement of $37 million over five years to support industry development ($22.2 million federal and $14.8 million provincial). See the backgrounder associated to this news release for more details.
The Canadian Agricultural Partnership is a $3 billion, five-year investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments to help Canada’s agricultural sector innovate, grow and prosper.
While in Reidville to announce the partnership details, Premier Ball and Minister Byrne toured the site of the province’s first large-scale agricultural land development pilot. The project was developed from the Provincial Government’s Request for Proposals to lease property for commercial fruit and vegetable production. Robbie and Chantille Coles were successful in securing 71.66 acres located on Rocky Brook Road in Reidville.
This land development initiative and the Canadian Agricultural Partnership support targets set out in the Provincial Government’s Way Forward and Agriculture Sector Work Plan, released in October, 2017 to pursue opportunities and remove barriers in support of agricultural growth.
The Agriculture Sector Work Plan identified specific action items to achieve targets for agricultural growth, namely, to increase Newfoundland and Labrador’s food self-sufficiency to at least 20 per cent by 2022, increase secondary processing of food products, and generate employment within the agriculture industry.
The initiatives announced today deliver on commitments in The Way Forward to strengthen the province’s economic foundation. The Way Forward outlines all actions the provincial government is taking to achieve a strong, diversified province with a high standard of living, and can be viewed at thewayforward.gov.nl.ca.
Quotes
“The Canadian Agricultural Partnership will help the sector in Newfoundland and Labrador continue to innovate, grow and prosper. We are committed to expanding business opportunities for our Canadian producers, ranchers and processors, and strengthening the middle class while helping the agricultural sector reach its full potential.”
- Gudie Hutchings - Member of Parliament, for Long Range Mountains
“By increasing access to land and securing Federal funding to increase our own provincial support for farmers, we are realizing our goals double our province’s food self-sufficiency, and double the number of people directly employed in agriculture. Working in partnership with industry players, we are improving the health of residents by providing greater access to high quality food, and enhancing their prosperity by fostering more employment, and more economic activity.”
- Honourable Dwight Ball - Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
“I congratulate Robbie and Chantille as the successful proponents in our inaugural large-scale land development initiative and I wish them all the best as they move forward in the agriculture industry. Officials with the Department of Fisheries and Land Resources worked with the Federal Government to secure the right agreement for Newfoundland and Labrador and I applaud their efforts. The Partnership will have a significant impact on the economy, the agriculture industry and our province.”
- Honourable Gerry Byrne - Minister of Fisheries and Land Resources
“The Canadian Agricultural Partnership will provide support for agricultural growth and employment creation, both of which are strongly supported by the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Agriculture. We look forward to working with the Provincial Government and our membership to ensure the funding program is utilized to further grow the agriculture and agrifoods industry.”
- Merv Wiseman - Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Agriculture
“Our family is very excited and honored to have the opportunity to be a part of a project that has great potential. We look forward to collaborating with other farmers and resources locally, provincially and nationally in building our future by maintaining growth through ingenuity to help achieve sustainability while maintaining conservation. Helping provide access to affordable, nutritious and safe food will be deeply gratifying. Building our future by growing both farmers and food to help achieve our self-sufficiency goal starts with local support, locals supporting locals is a key component to growth, diversity and sustainability.”
- Robbie Coles - New Entrant
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Associated links
Contacts
Guy Gallant
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay
613-773-1059
Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972
media.relations@agr.gc.ca
Follow us on Twitter: @AAFC_Canada
Like us on Facebook: CanadianAgriculture
Michelle Cannizzaro
Office of the Premier
709-729-3960
michellecannizzaro@gov.nl.ca
Connie Boland
Fisheries and Land Resources
709-637-2923, 640-6409
connieboland@gov.nl.ca
Merv Wiseman
Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Agriculture
709-689-5735
mervinwiseman@yahoo.ca
Robbie Coles
New Entrant
709- 635-3514
r.coles1978@gmail.com
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