Chicken growers are looking forward to next week’s BC Agriculture Council (BCAC) lobbying event in Victoria.
Ag Days, which BCAC typically hosts annually, takes place October 27-28. This year’s top request is for the province to consider agriculture an essential service.
“It means safeguarding the critical needs of the sector so it can be a stronger economic driver in the future than it is today,” BCAC president Jen Woike says. “We are seeking a commitment from government to ensure there is an operating environment that empowers the BC agriculture sector to achieve its full potential.”
By considering agriculture essential to the province’s well-being, BCAC hopes the provincial government will consider the impact new legislation, fees and budget allocations to ministries serving rural BC affect agricultural production.
During the BC Chicken Growers Association’s fall general meeting on October 21, president Brad Driediger told members the association looks forward to advancing its perspective on several key issues during the event.
During the association’s October board meeting, directors focused on priority discussion points.
“[It’s] ensuring our planned conversations accurately reflect the issues facing our industry, as well as addressing specific regional concerns on the Island and in the Interior,” Driediger says.
Key issues for chicken growers include confirming the province’s support for supply management; ensuring awareness of avian influenza’s impacts on growers and the need for government support; emphasizing the need for secure access to groundwater, a particular issue for Island growers; and highlighting the importance of specialty exports
The issues fit neatly within the areas of water and competitiveness BCAC has singled out for discussion with government.
Concerns related to land use and labour are also on BCAC’s agenda.
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