Canada’s agricultural producers strive to provide Canadians and the world with high-quality food. The operating environment for producers has evolved rapidly, providing opportunities for some sectors while others, such as cattle and hog producers, continue to face challenges.

Since coming to office our government has introduced major improvements to the suite of business risk management programs to ensure that producers have access to more responsive, predictable, and bankable farm income stabilization programs. The government’s new integrated approach towards farm support provides producers with comprehensive income protection against various hazards ranging from income variability, to natural hazards, and disasters as well as easier access to credit through cash advances. Our government has provided an additional $4.5 billion to farmers in our first two budgets to fund the improved suite of programs, facilitate the transition for producers, and help address rising costs of production.

Farming has been an important part of our community’s economy for over a century. With the support of my Conservative colleagues I intend to ensure that farming remains a viable and valuable part of British Columbia’s economy.