Conservatives Call on Liberals to Reverse Closures of Agricultural Research Centres and Experimental Farms
Ottawa, ON – John Barlow, Conservative Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Agri-Food and Jacques Gourde, Conservative Associate Shadow Minister for Agriculture, released the following statement calling on the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food to immediately halt and reverse the Liberal government’s decision to close seven Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) research and development centres and experimental farm sites:
“Over several weeks, the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food heard from researchers, industry leaders, community representatives and provincial governments, all delivering the same urgent message: that closing these research and development centres and experimental farm sites will cause long-term, irreversible damage to Canada’s agricultural research capacity, food security and food production.
“Witnesses were clear that every dollar invested in agricultural research returns many times over and that the expertise, regional data and breeding programs housed at these stations cannot be transferred or recreated. Neither universities nor provincial governments nor the private sector can absorb this work, as all face significant fiscal pressures of their own.
“The evidence underscored that each facility is unique and irreplaceable, conducting research tied directly to the soils, climates and conditions of its region. Critical programs in soil health, forage crops, cattle research, food safety and seed development stand to be permanently lost.
“This decision directly undermines Canada’s food security. Domestic agricultural research is essential to keeping Canadian food affordable and secure, especially in times of global uncertainty.
“This is all happening while the Liberal government spent more than $19 billion on consultants last year and another $33 million on a prison farm, wasted $200 million on a gravel pad space port and $300 million on a failed Health IT program.
“Clearly, this is not a budget decision; this is a values decision. The evidence shows it is the wrong one.
“Just recently, Prime Minister Carney warned, ‘a country that cannot feed itself, fuel itself or defend itself has few options’. At the same time, his Liberal government is dismantling one of the foundations of Canada’s ability to feed itself – highlighting the disconnect between Liberal rhetoric and reality.
“Conservatives are calling on the Liberal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food to maintain the organics program, halt these closures and work with the provinces and impacted stakeholders, scientists and workers on a path forward that does not jeopardize the future of agricultural science and research in Canada.”