Pork Producers Share Election Priorities Calling on parties to support the sector’s growth potential

Canada’s 7000 producers are calling on candidates from across Canada to commit to policies that will support a value chain with significant growth potential.

“Canadian pork producers work hard every day to provide high quality, nutritious, affordable and sustainable protein to families in Canada and around the world,” said Rick Bergman, CPC Chair. “They need parties to partner with them to deliver economic growth and prosperity for all Canadians.”

Canadian pork is increasingly in demand around the world and the value chain has significant growth potential. That is why Canadian pork producers are calling on candidates to support policies that partner with producers, protect the herd and promote the environment.

Parties are needed to partner with producers to maximize the potential of the sector by committing to:

• Fix Business Risk Management programs so they work for producers in need
• Facilitate access to skilled workers
• Defend, improve and expand market access
• Resolve trade barriers in China, the world’s largest pork importer

The health of Canadian pigs is one of the value chain's greatest assets but it is at risk. Parties should commit to protect the herd by:

• Committing $50 million to implement the Pan-Canadian African Swine Fever action plan
• Establishing a Canadian Foot-and-Mouth disease vaccine bank

Canadian pork producers already have one of the lowest environmental footprints in the world and producers are taking the extra steps to make it more sustainable. Canadian Pork Council is asking parties to work with producers to promote the environment by:

• Making concrete emissions reductions by partnering with producers to further improve the environmental sustainability of Canadian pork
• Exempting farm fuels such as propane and natural gas from the carbon pricing system, which impacts competitiveness without reducing emissions.

“Pork producers are calling on candidates to commit to polices so producers can employ more Canadians,
increase the value of exports and build better, more resilient communities from coast to coast,” added René
Roy, CPC Vice-Chair.

Canada’s pork producers are the starting point for:

• $23.8 billion to Canada’s GDP
• 100,00+ jobs from farm to fork
• 10,000+ processing jobs in suburban and urban communities
• More than $5 billion in exports to 90+ countries