Atlantic Agriculture Ministers Meet with Industry, Discuss Regional Co-operation

Atlantic agriculture ministers finished two days of meetings today (Tuesday, October 21) that explored more opportunities for regional co-operation and heard from industry representatives on common challenges they face.

The ministers met with presidents of the Atlantic Federations of Agriculture and chairs of the Maritime cattle producers and the Maritime pork producers, as well as other industry leaders.

�This meeting provided a forum for our regional agriculture stakeholders to meet for the first time, face-to-face, with the four ministers all together,� said Brooke Taylor, Agriculture Minister for Nova Scotia. �We need to work collaboratively with the Atlantic agriculture industry to ensure its future growth and sustainability.�

Nova Scotia hosted the meeting. Minister Taylor was joined by Ronald Ouellette, New Brunswick Minister of Agriculture and Aquaculture; Neil LeClair, Minister of Agriculture for Prince Edward Island; and Kathy Dunderdale, Minister of Natural Resources and Minister Responsible for the Forestry and Agrifoods Agency in Newfoundland and Labrador.

�This was an excellent opportunity to discuss challenges and opportunities facing the agricultural sector in Atlantic Canada and to identify ways to work together as provinces and industry,� said Minister Ouellette.

�These meetings have allowed us to have a more in-depth discussion on regional issues facing the agricultural industry,� said Minister LeClair. �I look forward to continued collaboration and dialogue with my counterparts to address these issues.�

The ministers agreed holding discussion forums helps to better understand the issues of the Atlantic agriculture industry.

�As Atlantic provinces, we can share our ideas and work collaboratively to advance our respective industries,� said Minister Dunderdale. �The position of Newfoundland and Labrador and the message I brought to the table is that to treat each province fairly, we must not necessarily treat them the same. Establishing this principle is crucial to our government and to discussions with the Federal Government and other provinces.�

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