Blaine Higgs Says PCs Would Focus On Strengthening Local Food Supply
BOUCTOUCHE – The Progressive Conservatives would place a stronger focus on food security if re-elected in September.
Leader Blaine Higgs says the pandemic provided important lessons about our reliance on foreign markets and the resiliency of our supply chain.
Covid-19 also revealed labour is a significant vulnerability in the provincial food supply.
“We have to find the reason why industries and in this case we are talking farming, agriculture, food processing, which our so crucial to our economy, are not attractive to our people,” Higgs said.
A PC government would keep the Food Security Action Plan going with the aim to strengthen local growing, buying and export initiatives.
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In Bouctouche on Thursday morning, Higgs said the pandemic gave us important lessons about our reliance on foreign markets and supply chain resiliency.
Higgs said they plan to make year-round farming a priority.
“This will involve exploring controlled-environment farming and indoor farming through more sophisticated greenhouses, tunnels, hydroponics and enhanced storage and refrigeration,” Higgs said.
The plan also includes examining food processing and automation to help growers boost the variety and quantity of fruits and vegetables grown at home year-round.
A feasibility study underway now will finish next month with an action plan to follow by the end of the year.
Food security was also the focus of the New Brunswick Liberal campaign on Thursday.
Kevin Vickers is promising to boost the Department of Agriculture budget by $5-million.
Speaking on a farm near Grand Falls, Vickers says farmers need support now.
“(We need to) help out the farmer any way we can… teach New Brunswickers the value of the family farm and improving opportunities for people to get into farming… ensuring that there’s cash… fluidity.”
Vickers says investing in agriculture will allow producers in the province to expand their operations.
Campaigning in Hartland on Thursday, Green Party Leader David Coon said the Liberal and Conservative leaders didn’t prioritize the needs of rural farming communities. He said if elected his government would create a Department of Rural Affairs.
Coon made the announcement along the St. John River, where water levels are among their lowest in decades to ongoing drought conditions.
He said farmers are concerned about the drought, but despite the fact it is affecting so many people, it has not yet been discussed this election.
“I think it’s because of the low priority that government after government has put on rural New Brunswick,” said Coon.
“When I listen to Mr. Higgs and Mr. Vickers, they don’t seem to get rural communities. They don’t seem to understand the needs of farmers and what’s involved in actually making a living year-in and year-out dependent on the weather. They just don’t seem to get the fact that rural New Brunswickers now are bearing the brunt of the consequences of the climate crisis and they see it every day.”
Brad Perry is the news director for Country 94/97.3 The Wave, Huddle content partners.
With files from Allan Dearing, a reporter with 91.9 The Bend, a Huddle content partner.