COVID-19 outbreaks at huge beef processing facilities in Alberta have highlighted a long-standing problem for B.C. farmers and ranchers, the lack of approved slaughter facilities for beef and other livestock on or close to their farms.

In debate on the agriculture ministryB次元官网网址檚 $77 million operating budget, B.C. Liberal agriculture critic Ian Paton described B.C. farms and ranches with empty fenced areas. He described a lack of small-scale options for meat and vegetable producers, and called for more processing licences and inspections.

B次元官网网址淎ll you need to do is fly over this province and look down at small farms everywhere in B.C., and the livestock are gone,B次元官网网址� Paton told the legislature. B次元官网网址淭hey used to be there, but thereB次元官网网址檚 no livestock inside the fences any more. What weB次元官网网址檝e shown is that 4,000 head of cattle a day being killed at a plant in Alberta B次元官网网址� or two or three plants in Alberta and across Canada B次元官网网址� is a little bit susceptible.B次元官网网址�

Agriculture Minister Lana Popham said there is progress on the horizon on food security and expansion of slaughter capacity in B.C.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e been working, over the last three years, with the B.C. CattlemensB次元官网网址� Association to try and figure out a larger way to address larger-scale slaughter in the province,B次元官网网址� Popham said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檇 say weB次元官网网址檙e getting pretty close to being able to see something new happen. It will offer a larger-scale capacity for beef, red meat slaughter. But itB次元官网网址檚 also going to give us the capacity to be able to market our own domestic meat within our province as raised and slaughtered here fully.B次元官网网址�

RELATED:

RELATED:

Paton introduced a private memberB次元官网网址檚 bill this week, calling for an increase in farm-based processing and sales, not just for beef, poultry and other livestock but vegetables as well.

B次元官网网址淚f youB次元官网网址檙e a farmer, you can grow all of the Brussels sprouts and potatoes and whatever in the world, but if you donB次元官网网址檛 have a processing plant nearby to sell that product to, nobody is going to grow it,B次元官网网址� Paton said. B次元官网网址淭he same with beef and poultry. If you donB次元官网网址檛 have an abattoir or butcher nearby, why would you bother getting into the production of some beef cattle or chickens or turkeys or hogs or whatever? So we need to get more licences out in B.C.B次元官网网址�

Popham was also asked about progress in getting B.C. food onto the menus of hospitals in the province, which she pushed for as critic and has worked on for three years as minister with a program called Feed B.C.

Popham said work began with Interior Health, starting with an expanded greenhouse operation to supply Penticton Regional Hospital. The hospital has also switched to B.C. eggs.

All of the other B.C. health authorities are getting ready to join the Feed B.C. program, and announcements are coming soon, Popham said.

tfletcher@blackpress.ca
Like us on and follow us on .