Canadian Chamber of Commerce launches working group to grow our country’s agriculture and agri-food sector

Ottawa, ON – February 11, 2020 – The Canadian Chamber of Commerce launched its National Agriculture and Agri-Food Working Group today to support the industry’s ability to grow and reach new customers. The Working Group will reflect the Canadian Chamber’s role as the country’s largest business association by representing all segments of the agriculture and agri-food value chain from farm to fork across sectors.

The Working Group will initially focus on regulatory reform, international trade, and labour shortages as three key areas where our country needs to improve the business environment if we are to reach our full potential as a global agricultural powerhouse.

“Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector has massive potential to grow both domestically and internationally. However, we need to move past the rhetoric and make tangible progress. The choice of Canadian Agriculture Day to launch the group underscores the Canadian Chamber’s commitment to help its members increase their voice with decision-makers,” said Art Sinclair, Chair of the Canadian Chamber’s Agriculture and Agri-Food Working Group.

To help build the work plan of the Working Group, the Canadian Chamber is speaking to industry leaders across the country about their priorities. The first roundtable occured yesterday, where participants met Neil Ellis, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, to discuss the government’s priorities for the sector.

The National Agriculture and Agri-Food Working Group is comprised of some of Canada’s leading businesses, chambers of commerce and associations:

Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce

Food Processors of Canada

Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce

Emerging Ag Inc.

Agropur Inc.

Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec

Manitoba Chambers of Commerce

Atlantic Chamber of Commerce Inc.

Syngenta Canada Inc.

1000 Islands Gananoque Chamber of Commerce

Medicine Hat & District Chamber of Commerce

La Coop Fédérée

Kelowna Chamber of Commerce

Ferrero Canada

Scotts Canada Ltd.

Nutrien Ltd.

Yorkton Chamber of Commerce

CropLife Canada

Dairy Farmers of Canada

Farm Credit Canada

Weyburn Chamber of Commerce

Red Deer & District Chamber of Commerce

The National Agriculture and Agri-Food Working Group is open to members of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce including agriculture and agri-food producers, processors, retailers and companies servicing the sector.

About the Canadian Chamber of Commerce – Because Business Matters
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce helps build the businesses that support our families, our communities and our country. We do this by influencing government policy, by providing essential business services and by connecting businesses to information they can use, to opportunities for growth and to a network of local chambers, businesses, decision-makers and peers from across the country, in every sector of the economy and at all levels of government, as well as internationally. We are unapologetic in our support for business and the vital role it plays in building and sustaining our great nation.

For more information, please contact:
Phil Taylor
Managing Director, External Communications
ptaylor@chamber.ca (preferred and fastest response time)
613.797-1860