Canada: Green Party Agricultural Policy

The Green Party recognizes the important role farmers play in maintaining the planet by offering funding to support participation in wildlife and habitat protection.

At the whistle stop in Winnipeg today, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May said, “Family farms will flourish when the Green party comes to power in Canada. May was addressing a rally outside the Winnipeg train station today where she discussed the Green Party’s agricultural policies. “I’ve come to Winnipeg to talk about investing in family farms, investing in locally grown food and eliminating unnecessary pesticides, herbicides and antibiotics,” said May. “For too long, government has subsidized corporate farming operations and has shut out local growers. Agricultural policy must be designed to the support the family farm.” The Green Party’s agricultural policy is designed to enhance the long-term success of Canada’s agricultural sector. It encourages production for export and for local consumption. It recognizes the important role farmers play in maintaining our planet by offering funding to support participation in wildlife and habitat protection and greenhouse gas emission reductions. “Farmers should be compensated for protecting our environment. They are stewards of the earth and we all should recognize their contribution,” said May. The Green Party is in favour of increasing the amount of healthy food that is grown locally. Canadians should be able to obtain the bulk of their food from farms within 200 kilometres of their homes. The Green Party is also promising to work with the agricultural community to help foster local markets. "Canadians want to eat healthy locally grown food and the Green Party is the only party prepared to work with farmers and consumers to develop the products and markets across this country,” said May. The Green Party platform is available as a pdf file here.