June 20, 2002

Delivering on our Throne Speech commitment to move Canadian agriculture beyond crisis management to a more profitable future, and responding to the Prime Minister’s Caucus Task Force on Future Opportunities in Farming, the government today unveiled a new Agricultural Policy Framework (APF) for Canada.

This APF is bold and forward-looking. And is an important step forward in our government’s 21st century agenda - an agenda dedicated to maximizing opportunity for all Canadians.

.The APF contains a substantial new long term investment by the Government of Canada - some $5.2 billion over 6 years. Full participation of the provinces will bring the package announced today to $8.18 billion.

The APF also provides a new strategic policy framework - combining short term and long term action - that will enable our farmers to take the steps necessary to make the Maple Leaf a global trademark of excellence in agriculture and agri-food in the 21st century – for food safety, innovation and environmentally-responsible production.

The APF is a comprehensive tool kit that will make Canada the world leader when it comes to meeting the key benchmark demands of consumers around the world - for safe, innovative food products produced in an environmentally-friendly manner.

Highlights of the APF

Short Term Action to help Farmers Meet the challenges of Today

We are investing $1.2 billion of new funds - above and beyond existing assistance -- to help farmers meet challenges they face today, such as drought, and to help them bridge to a new generation of programs that will help reduce business risks and fuel growth and profitability. With the provincial portion of this cost-shared initiative, that's $1 billion this year and $1 billion next year in new funding to assist Canadian producers.

Long Term Action to Implement the APF

We are investing the federal share of funds -- $3.4 billion -- to implement the APF.

The APF recognizes the increased challenges our producers face as they adapt to global challenges in five key areas: food safety and quality, science and innovation, skills and renewal, the environment and the management of business risks on the farm.

Provinces helped to build the APF and we hope and expect that they will announce their share of the funding in the near future.

Responding to the Prime Minister’s Caucus Task Force on Future Opportunities in Farming

Responding to key recommendations of the Prime Minister’s Caucus Task Force on Future Opportunities in Farming, we are making an additional investment of $589 million over the next two years to help farmers bridge to the APF.

We will do this through investments to help farmers wishing to add value to their products, to broaden access to new and more environmentally friendly pesticides, to help farmers implement environmental farm planning, and to ensure federal leadership on national food safety.

In addition to the Framework, we are accelerating our plan to improve broadband Internet access for rural communities - beginning work this year, rather than waiting until 2004. The Minister of Industry will announce the details of this in the coming weeks.

And we will continue to make a forceful case against runaway agricultural subsidies - especially the wrong headed US Farm Bill - that continue to distort international markets.