COTA was invited to present last Thursday May 2 at the House of Commons Agriculture Committee’s study on “Issues relating to the horticulture sector”. The study is investigating issues relating to the horticulture sector, insurance programs and federal assistance granted, as well as possible solutions for greater climate resistance.
Tia Loftsgard, COTA’s executive director, and Gillian Flies, owner-operator of The New Farm, Executive Director of The New Farm Centre for Climate Action and board member of the Canadian Organic Growers (COG), used the opportunity to draw attention to:
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innovations from the organic sector that could be adopted for greater climate resilience
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Canada’s lack of a policy framework for organic agriculture
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our national Organic Action Plan.
There was great interest from committee members, and many follow up questions about organic agriculture and additional supports needed for the sector. COTA continues to work closely with the Canadian Organic Alliance (COTA, COG, Organic Federation of Canada) to ensure that the needs of the organic sector are raised with elected officials and government staff.
Meeting highlights related to organic
Introductory Remarks from the organic sector
MP Tim Louis (Liberal): Incentives we would like to see for organic, why we must be proactive in mitigation of climate change, ability of organic farmers to access supports, importance of domestic supply of organic to meet demand
MP Alistair MacGregor (NDP): Why a policy directive for organic is crucial
MP Leah Taylor Roy (Liberal): Organic profitability, attracting the next generation of farmers, cost of land for farmers, policy directive for organic
MP Yves Perron (Bloc québecois): Permanent funding for organic standards
Following the verbal testimony, COTA submitted a written brief to answer additional questions that committee members had about organic.
-UPDATE-
In June, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food released its report titled “Improving the Resilience of Canada’s Horticultural Sector”. The study examined issues in the horticulture sector, insurance programs, federal assistance, and solutions for greater climate resistance. COTA’s Tia Loftsgard and Gillian Flies, an organic farmer and advocate from The New Farm, were among the 29 witnesses who provided testimony.
The report contains 13 recommendations to the Government of Canada. Recommendation 12 recognizes the market growth potential of the organic sector. In particular, it suggests that the Government develop a policy framework for the growth of the organic sector and provide complete and permanent funding for the review of the Canadian Organic Standards every five years.
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