Agriculture &

Revitalizing Agriculture

The Alberta Liberal Caucus believes in the small family farm – our policies would promote these operations, rather than focusing exclusively on international corporate farms.

• We recognize the need to protect our Agricultural Land from development. Our province, like much of Canada, is rapidly losing our most valuable and most productive agriculture land to development and fragmentation, and it is essential that we restrict these losses though effective land use planning.

• We are focused on the advancement of new technologies and new ways of farming that will ensure that our agriculture industries remain competitive, while also encouraging value-added agriculture business.  These new technologies need to be available, and affordable, for all farmers in Alberta, right down to the small family producer. This will keep our agricultural sector not only competitive, but at the forefront of agri-business internationally.

• We will encourage vegetable and fruit production for local markets; establish a provincial organic certification agency; and encourage and support the growing and marketing of organic products.

• The Alberta Liberal Caucus has long advocated for changes to the Occupational Health and Safety Act to protect paid farm workers while continuing to exempt family members and other unpaid labourers. Alberta is behind the rest of the country when it comes to the exclusion of farm workers from labour laws. It is time to give paid farm workers the rights that they have been denied for so many years.

• The Alberta Liberal Caucus is committed to implementing the most advanced food safety regulations across the province. It is essential that our province has food safety standards, regulations, and monitoring systems that put us as the forefront internationally to maintain a competitive advantage.