OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA - Certain key segments of the Canadian produce industry were included in Canada’s Federal Budget 2024, but the Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) warns that it’s still insufficient.

“The fresh fruit and vegetable supply chain contributes nearly $15 billion to Canada’s GDP, and supports more than 185,000 jobs in rural and urban communities across the country. We also provide Canadian families with safe and nutritious food that is crucial to supporting their health and well-being,” said President Ron Lemaire. “We urge the government to further build on the efforts in Budget 2024 to make food a federal priority across federal departments, strengthen Canada’s food security, and support a growing, resilient, and sustainable fresh produce sector.”

CPMA did see a number of its recommendations make it into the Federal Budget 2024. According to a press release, these include the following:

• A federal investment of $1 billion over 5 years to establish a national school food program
• Federal funding under the new Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund to accelerate construction and upgrades of municipal waste infrastructure, which is critical to an effective transition to a circular economy
• An adjustment to the Advance Payment Program that sets the interest-free loan limit at $250,000
• Significant investments in innovation and AI adoption to help foster the growth of critical sectors including agriculture
• Funding of $39 million for Health Canada and Agriculture and Agri-food Canada to maintain the pesticides regulatory system and support sustainable pesticide management

As Lemaire noted above, the association was disappointed that some implementations were not made. For example, implementing a financial protection mechanism for produce sellers was again not included in the federal budget.

This tool is one that CPMA has consistently reiterated the importance of, due to its opportunity to address gaps in market stability, financial protection, trade, and food security, with no cost to the government. Bill C-280, the Financial Protection for Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Farmers Act, which would establish a deemed trust financial protection tool, also received nearly unanimous support in the House of Commons last fall and is currently before the Senate.

“Supply chain disruptions and geopolitical and economic volatility have put the produce sector in a more vulnerable position without a financial protection mechanism in place,” added Lemaire. “Bill C-280 has support from associations across the country and Members of Parliament from across the political spectrum. We are hopeful that all Senators will support this important legislation and secure its swift passage in the coming weeks.”

We’ll await further news, so stay tuned to us here at AndNowUKnow.