On Friday, Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial (FPT) Ministers of Agriculture concluded their annual meeting after focused discussions on creating opportunities for a dynamic agriculture and agri-food sector in Canada. Ministers continue to plan for long-term success, while taking necessary actions to further strengthen the sector, which contributed $106.9 billion to Canada’s GDP in 2013.
FPT Ministers committed to enhancing collaboration between governments, academia and industry to continue to build a modern and competitive sector that contributes to Canada’s economy and economic growth. Ministers will maintain efforts to improve infrastructure, strengthen the regulatory framework, enhance market access and development, and advance investment in innovation.
Through strategic discussions related to trade, business risk management, and emergency management, Ministers continue to work toward creating an environment in which Canadian producers can be more competitive in both domestic and international markets.
Prince Edward Island Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, the Honourable George Webster, emphasized the importance of the agriculture and agri-food sector to the economy of PEI.
“Agriculture is the largest industry in Prince Edward Island, generating a half a billion dollars in cash receipts and employing approximately 3,500 people,” said Minister Webster. “Ensuring that our industry remains competitive is critical as we expect the sector to continue to grow and prosper.”
Minister Webster also extended an invitation to delegates to attend the 2015 FPT Ministers of Agriculture meetings which will take place in Charlottetown July 15-17, 2015.