Ottawa-A trade recovery program is required to enable pork producers to swiftly regain foreign market access and stabilize the industry in the event of an outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) in Canada, the Canadian Pork Council (CPC) and Canadian Meat Council (CMC) have told Parliamentarians and government officials.

As well, the Councils called for improved trade access and ongoing labor and immigration programs for the pork industry during their annual fall meetings here. Farmers and processors want the government to prioritize solutions that support the sector's year-round labour needs, they said. A reliable agricultural workforce is needed year-round to maintain production and processing to meet the demands of domestic and international markets.

This year’s joint effort underscored the CPC’s and the CMC’s commitment to building strong relationships with policymakers and strengthening the voice of Canada’s pork industry. 

“These were important days for our industry,” said Rene Roy, Chair of the CPC. “By joining forces with the Canadian Meat Council, we presented a united front to advocate for the priorities of the Canadian pork sector. Our conversations emphasized the urgent need to address challenges like ASF, expand trade opportunities, and agriculture’s unique labour needs, priorities which are crucial for sustaining and growing our industry. We look forward to continuing to work with policymakers to advance these priorities.” This year’s joint effort underscored the CPC’s and the CMC’s commitment to building strong relationships with policymakers and amplifying the voice of Canada’s pork industry

Chris White, President and CEO of CMC, said “Our joint lobby day showcased the power of collaboration, Together, we were able to effectively spotlight issues affecting both producers and processors in a way that demonstrates our industry’s cohesive vision for the future. We are grateful to all the parliamentarians and officials who joined us and look forward to building on these discussions.”

The event culminated in the annual PorkFest reception, where members of the CPC and the CMC were joined by government officials and industry representatives to celebrate the dedication of Canadian pork producers. Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay spoke to the audience about his support for the Canadian pork sector. The event was by hosted John Barlow, the Conservative ag critic.

This news item prepared for National Newswatch