FEDERAL-PROVINCIAL-TERRITORIAL FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT ON AGRICULTURAL AND AGRI-FOOD POLICY FOR THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY

Following the Agriculture Ministers' conference in June 2002 in Halifax, Canada and the Provinces and Territories entered into the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Framework Agreement on Agricultural and Agri-Food Policy for the Twenty-First Century.

Parties involved

Part One - General Components of the Framework Agreement (1)

Part One - General Components of the Framework Agreement (2)

Part Two - Chapter Components of the Framework Agreement

• Section A: Business Risk Management
• Section B: Food Safety and Food Quality
• Section C: Environment
• Section D: Renewal
• Section E: Science and Innovation

Part Three - Branding Canada and Maximizing International Opportunities

Part Four - General

Annex 1: Indicators to Measure Performance in Relation to Agreed Environmental Goals and Targets

Annex 2: Renewal Indicators to Measure Performance in Relation to Agreed Goals and Targets

FEDERAL-PROVINCIAL-TERRITORIAL FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT ON AGRICULTURAL AND AGRI-FOOD POLICY FOR THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY

BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENTS OF:

CANADA, as represented by the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food (referred to as "Canada");

- and -

NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR, as represented by the Minister of Forest Resources and Agrifoods and the Minister for Intergovernmental Affairs;

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND, as represented by the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry;

NOVA SCOTIA, as represented by the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries;

NEW BRUNSWICK, as represented by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Aquaculture;

QUEBEC, as represented by the Ministre de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation and the Ministre délégué aux Affaires intergouvernementales canadiennes;

ONTARIO, as represented by the Minister of Agriculture and Food;

MANITOBA, as represented by the Minister of Agriculture and Food;

SASKATCHEWAN, as represented by the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization;

ALBERTA, as represented by the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development;

BRITISH COLUMBIA, as represented by the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries;

YUKON TERRITORY, as represented by the Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources; and

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES, as represented by the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development.

(Canada, the Provinces and the Territories are hereafter collectively referred to as the "Parties" and singularly as a "Party").

WHEREAS the federal, provincial and territorial ministers of agriculture, representing their respective governments, recognize the important economic contribution of the entire agriculture and agri-food sector to Canada and, in particular, to its rural communities;

AND WHEREAS the responsibility for agriculture is shared between federal, provincial and territorial governments of Canada and the Parties have had a long history of collaboration in advancing the interests of the Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector;

AND WHEREAS the profitability of the Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector depends on its capacity to innovate and to successfully compete for customers in Canada and in markets around the world;

AND WHEREAS the agriculture and agri-food sector is, on its own initiative, taking action to meet the changing demands of the marketplace and fostering new partnerships along the agriculture and agri-food continuum to improve competitiveness and capitalize on market opportunities;

AND WHEREAS on June 29, 2001, at the annual meeting of ministers of agriculture in Whitehorse, the Parties reached an Agreement in Principle that articulated an action plan to assist the agriculture and agri-food sector in its endeavours;

AND WHEREAS the Parties agreed in the Agreement in Principle that an integrated policy framework with common goals and effective mechanisms for implementation would be developed to secure the benefits of a consistent approach, while recognizing the need for flexibility in how these goals would be reached and respecting jurisdictions and responsibilities;

AND WHEREAS the Parties are committed to laying a foundation to further strengthen the agriculture and agri-food sector by developing a comprehensive and integrated national agricultural and agri-food policy that: a) fosters confidence in food safety and food quality systems and the environment; b) accelerates advances in science and technology; and c) provides farmers with the risk management and renewal tools that they need in order to be more profitable;

AND WHEREAS the national agriculture and agri-food policy articulated by the Parties in the Agreement in Principle will act as the foundation for a comprehensive branding strategy to ensure that the marketplace recognizes and rewards Canada as the world leader in the production of quality agriculture and agri-food products;

AND WHEREAS the Parties recognize that a national agriculture and agri food policy requires a concerted international strategy to ensure that the Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector can use Canada's enhanced reputation to take full advantage of market opportunities around the world;

AND WHEREAS the Parties wish to ensure that the areas of food safety and food quality, science and innovation, environmental stewardship, risk management and renewal complement and strengthen one another;

AND WHEREAS the Parties recognize the importance of working with the agriculture and agri-food sector to promote the objectives of the Agricultural and Agri-Food Policy Framework.

NOW THEREFORE the Parties agree to enter into this Federal Provincial-Territorial Framework Agreement on Agricultural and Agri-Food Policy for the Twenty-First Century.

< Previous Next >