Growing Forward – For Some, Not All
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Growing Forward – For Some, Not All
Full Report
October 2008
Virginia Labbie, Policy Analyst, Agri-Business
Marilyn Braun-Pollon, Vice-President, Agri-Business
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) recently surveyed its national agri-business membership on the new Growing Forward BRM programs AgriStability and AgriInvest. In July 2008, Federal, Provincial and Territorial (FPT) governments announced a multilateral agreement on Canada’s new Growing Forward Framework. Part of the agreement includes a “strategic review of BRM programs over the coming year to ensure programs meet evolving needs.” CFIB believes governments have a real opportunity to ensure these programs hit the mark and are useful risk management tools that are transparent, accessible, predictable and timely.
Introduction
The CFIB represents over 6,500 agri-businesses across Canada. Seventy-eight per cent are primary producers and 22 per cent are within the agriculture services sector.
These agricultural firms join CFIB for its advocacy of an entrepreneurial business culture and its mission to give independent business a greater voice in determining laws governing the industry. The Federation believes that farmers, in their capacity as business owners, require strong advocacy with respect to the business-related issues of farming.
CFIB is entirely funded by its members and takes direction from them through regular surveys on various policy issues facing their firms.
CFIB’s research capacity is second-to-none and the Federation is able to gather timely and concrete information from agri-business members about the business issues that affect their day-to-day operation and bottom line. In this capacity, CFIB is an excellent source of up-to-date information for governments to consider when developing policies for Canada’s agricultural community.
