Canadian products are worth promoting

There is no question that our farmers, producers, and fishers work tirelessly to produce the very best products in the world. Canada’s agriculture, agri-food and seafood trade has continued its record pace as a driver of our economy, and the growing global demand for Canadian food products is proof of the quality we are known for.

Atlantic Canadians know very well that trade is vital to the success of farmers and fishers. As the fifth-largest exporter of agrifood and seafood in the world, Canada exports about a third of our wheat crop, two-thirds of our pork, 85 per cent of our canola and 90 per cent of our pulse crops.

In 2023 alone, we exported over $7 billion worth of fish and seafood.

GROWING OPPORTUNITY

A key market for Canada is the Indo-pacific Region. Home to more than four billion people, the Indo-pacific is one of the world’s fastest-growing economic regions, purchasing about a quarter of all Canadian agricultural and agri-food exports. From Korea’s leading grocery chain, to breweries in Japan, to meat processors in the Philippines – our products are highly sought after.

I was proud to be in Manila last month to open Canada’s first-ever agriculture and agrifood trade office in the Indopacific. Backed by a federal investment $31.8 million, the office will be the home base for our mobile team of trade and technical experts from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Agriculture and Agri-food Canada. It will open the door to more opportunities for our farmers, fishers and food producers, boost the demand for our top-quality food products, and strengthen food security right across the region.

During the trip, I connected with Kent Smith, the minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture for Nova Scotia, who was in Manila as part of the Atlantic Canada Seafood Mission. We both know the importance of promoting Canadian lobster and seafood in the region and the fact that more demand leads to more sales and helps boost the economy of so many coastal communities.

OPPOSITION REACTION

Unfortunately, the Conservative Party of Canada, including some Atlantic Conservative MPS took issue with my trade mission and promotion of Atlantic Canadian lobster.

Either they do not understand that trade missions are essential to establishing, maintaining, and expanding our export markets, or they do not believe that the products we produce in Atlantic Canada are good enough to promote abroad. Both are completely unacceptable and out of touch with the realities of communities across our region.

A strong fishery is integral to the prosperity of Atlantic Canada and it is truly a shame that every Conservative member of Parliament from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador chose to stay silent and not stand up for their own constituents and communities. This comes after they voted against over $356 million in DFO funding in December, including millions in funding to help folks recover after hurricane Fiona.

SEAFOOD EXPO

Having the opportunity to sit down, face-to-face, with our key customers around the world is necessary when we are competing with other countries who also want their business. Not maintaining or growing these markets will lead to fewer opportunities for our farmers and fishers and that would be absolutely devastating, especially for our region.

I will always promote and defend our fishers, the coastal communities they support, and the outstanding products they are responsible for. Last weekend, I travelled to Boston with the minister of Fisheries and the minister of ACOA to attend Seafood Expo North America, the largest seafood trade exposition in North America. Our Atlantic seafood was on full display and the connections that were made there will make our trade ties even stronger and deliver more opportunities for our fish and seafood harvesters.

When I was first appointed to this file back in 2015, we set a goal to reach $75 billion dollars in agriculture and food exports by 2025. Last year, we surpassed that goal, reaching nearly $100 billion in exports. I want to keep that momentum going, and whether it is Alberta beef or Atlantic lobster, Liberals will always work as hard as we can to make Canada the supplier of choice for customers around the world.

Lawrence Macaulay is Canada’s minister of Agriculture and Agrifood and member of Parliament for Cardigan, Prince Edward Island.