More information on Growing Forward 2 can be found here.

In committee meetings, witnesses offered criticisms and suggestions for improvement regarding the current BRM programs included in Growing Forward, and gave feedback regarding the usefulness of these programs to agriculture producers. Witnesses included representatives from the pork, cattle, poultry and potato industries, as well as civil society groups and producer organizations. The committee meetings were marked by concerns regarding the administrative burden placed on farmers by complex paperwork, the perceived lack of innovation in the agricultural sector, and the need for international market access.  Specifically, many witnesses expressed reservations about the effectiveness of AgriStability, {link} noting the long wait times in between applying for the program and receiving financial assistance.  Furthermore, many witnesses asked for clarifications regarding what types of ‘disasters’ would be covered by the government’s AgriRecovery program.

The committee went in camera at the end of each meeting to discuss committee business.

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“The provinces and victims should not have to bear the burden of clean-up and recovery for these massive disasters alone. There should be federal support, especially for the First Nations communities that have been affected,” said Ms. May. “The federal government will also have to be prepared to assist with the environmental impacts, as there are concerns these floods have washed large quantities of sewage and farm chemicals into sensitive waterways.”

“This is an unprecedented situation, with serious flooding happening simultaneously in multiple regions of the continent,” added Ms. May. “Once the clean-up is done and life has returned to normal for the affected communities, we are going to have to look at the broader ramifications.”

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