The future of farming in Canada depends on politicians recognizing the integral contributions farmers make to the economy and to communities across the country. As Canadians focus on party platforms, attend all-candidates debates and prepare to vote on May 2, 2011, these are some of the key agriculture and agri-food issues of interest to egg farmers:

Supply management

• Supply management is a uniquely Canadian approach to poultry, egg and dairy production that ensures a safe and reliable domestic food supply for consumers at reasonable and predictable prices. It’s also an important economic engine for many rural communities across the country.
• Supply management and its three pillars—import controls, production discipline and producer pricing—enable farmers to earn a fair return on their labour and investment. Canada needs to strengthen—not weaken—import control measures, which are necessary to run an efficient supply management system.
• With 70% of revenue stemming from the domestic market, Canada’s agricultural policy framework must recognize the importance of the domestic market—which includes supply management—to Canada’s agriculture and agri-food producers.
• Farmers must be able to preserve their right to operate under supply management and preserve any and all measures necessary to ensure the continued stability of Canadian agriculture. In a random survey, Canadians demonstrated their clear preference for domestically produced poultry, egg and dairy products over subsidized imports. 

International trade

• The domestic market is extremely important for Canadian poultry, egg and dairy farmers. This is why Canada’s elected officials must achieve a World Trade Organization agreement on agriculture and a Canada-EU trade deal that results in no negative economic impact on farmers operating under supply management by delivering no increases in access to our Canadian markets and no reductions in over-quota tariffs.
• Egg farmers are asking that no single commodity be traded off in trade negotiations to enhance the interest of another commodity; nor can agriculture in general be traded off for another sector of Canadian industry.
• All parties have leant their unanimous support to a House of Commons motion calling on Canadian negotiators to achieve a WTO agriculture agreement that achieves no increases to market access and no reductions in over-quota tariffs. Egg farmers appreciate this support and call on all parties for their continued support.

Food safety and Traceability

• Canada’s egg farmers are world leaders in food safety by adhering to Start Clean-Stay CleanTM, our national HACCP-based on-farm food safety program deemed technically sound by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
• We are dedicated to a process of continuous improvement and confident the Government will continue to recognize Start Clean-Stay CleanTM as the most effective way to ensure a safe and stable national egg supply.
• The Canadian egg industry is a leader in establishing national egg and animal traceability standards. At present, we are conducting egg traceability concept trials in Western Canada and Atlantic Canada. Going forward, we ask that Government remain committed to this project and continue to provide the resources required by agriculture to adopt comprehensive traceability.

Research

• Egg farmers are big believers in research and innovation. Along with our support for individual researchers, Egg Farmers of Canada is currently establishing specialized research chairs in key areas at some Canadian universities.
• Last year, we signed an agreement with Université Laval to form the first-ever economics research chair on the egg industry. This year, we have signed an agreement with the University of Guelph to establish a research chair specializing in animal welfare. We are also seeking to establish a research chair at an institution specializing in nutrition.
• Government, too, must maintain its commitment to research. The best innovations in egg production today are the direct result of research. The development of new and innovative products can become an even greater Canadian success story with increased Government support for research.

Environment

• Egg farming is already one of the most efficient forms of animal agriculture and Canada’s egg farmers are dedicated to furthering our efficiencies. Egg farming is also among the most environmentally friendly agriculture sectors in Canada today.
• To further our efficiencies and reduce our environmental footprint, government programs should support investigation of potential alternate energy sources such as biodigesters, wind and solar.

Local Food

• Canada’s 1,032 regulated egg farmers produce eggs in all ten provinces and in the Northwest Territories. Egg production from coast to coast means eggs are one of the most locally produced foods available to Canadians.
• Support by Government departments for small scale boutique agriculture is helping to provide young farmer entrepreneurs with the tools they need to get growing. Regulated egg farmers ask that these positive initiatives be balanced with requirements for food safety, traceability, environmental sustainability and animal welfare.

Risk Management

• Supply management must continue to be recognized as a risk management program and the three pillars of supply management—border measures, ability to set prices, and the ability to manage supply—must be identified and supported in any future agricultural policy framework.

Economic Contribution

• Canada’s poultry and egg farmers make a sizeable economic contribution to the nation and to the rural communities in which they live. Collectively, poultry and egg farmers contribute more than $6.4 billion annually to the Canadian GDP, while more than 50,000 Canadian jobs are directly and indirectly created by poultry and egg farming. Canadian poultry and egg farmers also contribute approximately $600 million in annual tax revenues to federal, provincial and municipal governments.
• Canada’s egg farmers contribute about $1.4 billion annually to the Canadian GDP and some 10,000 Canadian jobs directly and indirectly result from egg farming. Egg farmers also contribute roughly $115 million in annual tax revenues to federal, provincial and municipal governments.