Food production equals jobs
The 2011 Bulkley Valley Exhibition has once again demonstrated the importance of agriculture to our way of life.
Being able to feed ourselves with products grown and raised locally, regionally and provincially is important for our health and also for climate action, reducing the need for long distance, fuel-intensive transportation.
But another benefit of local food production is jobs. For this government, with their much lauded ‘jobs agenda’, highlighting local food and agriculture would be a surefire way to get results.
But ‘highlight’ is hardly the word one would use when taking a look at this government’s record on agriculture — not one mention of agriculture or lands initiatives in either the 2010 or 2011 Speech from the Throne. This lack of focus on agriculture is reflected in decreased resources devoted to the sector as well. B.C. has the lowest proportional spending in support of agriculture of any provincial government in Canada. And since the election 27 months ago, we have had a revolving door at the top with three different ministers of agriculture. With a new minister every nine months on average, stability and long-term vision are not the words that come to mind with the government’s approach.
Yet we have excellent conditions for expansion of food production in this province. A report by our own Ministry of Agriculture five years ago on BC’s food self-reliance analyzed the food consumed here that could be grown here. Turns out B.C. farmers are supplying 56% of that food, which means that 44% of the food that could be grown here is being imported instead. That translates into a lot of jobs are being supported elsewhere with our consumer dollars. And these jobs are being encouraged to develop by governments in those other provinces, states and countries that see agriculture as a priority.
We have a solid history of agriculture here in the northwest. We need more attention paid to this sector by the B.C. government. Activities like expanding farmer’s markets, policies that encourage regional food procurement stipulations, and outreach services like a district agrologist, for example. Now that would be a real jobs agenda.