Cowichan-Malahat-Langford MP Alistair MacGregor, the federal NDPB次元官网网址檚 Agriculture and Agri-food critic, is the Canadian Produce Marketing AssociationB次元官网网址檚 2020 Produce Champion.

The Produce Champion award is given annually to at least one MP or senator who has been supportive of the produce industry and effective at bringing industry issues to the forefront on Parliament Hill.

B次元官网网址淪ince his election in 2015, Alistair MacGregor has consistently shown incredible support for the Canadian fresh fruit and vegetable industry,B次元官网网址� CPMA president Ron Lemaire said in a press release. B次元官网网址淲e are truly grateful for his engagement, and particularly for his advocacy on a range of issues, including the need for a financial protection mechanism for produce sellers, which continues to be a key priority for our members.B次元官网网址�

Following the announcement of the award, MacGregor talked about the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on agriculture in Canada.

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B次元官网网址淭he COVID-19 pandemic has emphasized the precariousness of our food supply chain, creating unprecedented economic challenges for food industries around the world,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭he fresh produce sector has not been immune to these challenges.B次元官网网址�

MacGregor noted that the CPMA has recently released a report on the produce industryB次元官网网址檚 post-COVID recovery plan, which contains 24 recommendations to the federal government about how it can support the sector. MacGregor supports the establishment of a trust similar to the U.S. Perishable Agriculture Commodities Act, which has been a longstanding commitment from the NDP.

B次元官网网址淚n the previous Parliament, both the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food and the Standing Committee on Finance produced separate but complimentary reports with recommendations to the Liberal government concerning the establishment of a PACA-like deemed trust for Canada. Both calls were left unanswered by this government,B次元官网网址� MacGregor said.

B次元官网网址淭he NDP stands with our produce growers and calls on the Liberal government to act without further delay. Waiting until mass bankruptcies in export markets resulting from wide-spread business closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic is not a sensible approach to good public policy; contingencies should be in place long before that happens.B次元官网网址�

The federal government has a responsibility to ensure financial security for farmers before crippling economic harm occurs, MacGregor added.

B次元官网网址淢any fresh fruit and vegetable growers are struggling to rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲ithout the creation of a deemed trust for Canada built into the governmentB次元官网网址檚 COVID-19 recovery plan, the Canadian producer sector are turning the next corner in this global pandemic without the hope on the horizon they should expect from our government.B次元官网网址�

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