Canada’s Food Sectors Primed for Growth

New report by the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry highlights potential for food and beverage manufacturers

Ottawa, July 17, 2019 – The Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry has released a report, Made in Canada: Growing Canada’s Value-Added Food Sector that provides a roadmap and recommendations on expanding the value-added food sector by improving regulations, investing in innovation and streamlining trade inter-provincially and internationally.

“The report does an excellent job identifying the processing industry’s current barriers – especially labour and regulations – and offering solutions,” said Norm Beal, CEO, Food and Beverage Ontario. “Food processors may be a leading employer in the country but we are above average on job vacancy rates which is why the report’s reference to Food and Beverage Ontario’s Taste Your Future program in attracting youth to the sector is particularly important to us.”  

Other recommendations and references of interest to food and beverage processors in Ontario include:

  • Improvements be made to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program including the program’s requirements and processing fees. The suggestion to prioritize access to permanent residence for temporary foreign workers was addressed in part with the recent Agri-Food Immigration Pilot announcement.
  • Transportation issues be addressed with better road networks, harmonized regulations for the trucking industry and reduced processing times for trucks crossing the border with the United States.
  • Regulatory agency mandates be reformed to include innovation, growth and overall competitiveness as a core consideration.
  • Prioritize and further invest in innovation, growth and competitiveness with new initiatives and support for research and traceability.
  • Strengthen an open and rules-based approach to international trade and continue to support supply management.
  • Develop a global marketing program and streamline trade between provinces and territories.  

The report clearly recognizes the untapped potential of Canada’s value-added food sector in increasing international and interprovincial trade. Food and Beverage Ontario is a founding member of Food and Beverage Canada – Aliments et boissons Canada and will be working closely with that organization on making certain the development and implementation of recommendations support Ontario processing businesses.

About Food and Beverage Ontario

Food and Beverage Ontario is a not-for-profit, leadership organization dedicated to advancing the interests of Ontario’s food and beverage processors. The organization’s focus in on the growth of the food and beverage processing sector and the success of its members. Visit fooodandbeverageontario.ca to learn more.

Contact:

Isabel Dopta
Communications Director
Food and Beverage Ontario
idopta@foodandbeverageontario.ca

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