Daily COVID-19 Update: May 5, 2020

Government Announces Support For Agriculture Sector

The Government of Canada announced $252 million to support farmers, food businesses and food processors that provide essential services to Canadians every day by ensuring a safe and reliable food supply. The government also announced that it intends to propose an additional $200 million in borrowing capacity for the sector. These supports include:

• Creating a $77.5 million Emergency Processing Fund to help food producers access more personal protective equipment (PPE), adapt to health protocols, automate or modernize their facilities, processes, and operations, and respond to emerging pressures from COVID-19 so they can better supply Canadians with food during this period.
• Launching a national AgriRecovery initiative of up to $125 million in funding to help producers faced with additional costs incurred by COVID-19. This includes set-asides for cattle and hog management programs to manage livestock backed-up on farms, due to the temporary closure of food processing plants. This new federal funding will help beef and pork producers and processors adapt to a changing market, and help farmers and ranchers keep their animals longer before marketing.
• Announcing the intention to increase the Canadian Dairy Commission’s borrowing limit by $200 million to support costs associated with the temporary storage of cheese and butter to avoid food waste. The government will work with opposition parties to achieve the required legislative change.  
• Launching a first-ever Surplus Food Purchase Program with an initial $50 million fund designed to help redistribute existing and unsold inventories, which could include products such as potatoes and poultry, to local food organizations who are serving vulnerable Canadians.
• Working with provinces and territories to increase interim payments from 50 per cent to 75 per cent through AgriStability, a federal, provincial and territorial program that supports producers who face significant revenue declines. This change has already been enacted in some provinces.
• Working with provinces and territories to explore possibilities for expanding the AgriInsurance program to include labour shortages as an eligible risk for the horticulture sector. This work with provincial and territorial partners would insure against lost production due to an insufficient workforce, should producers be unable to find enough labour to harvest.

The supports announced today are a first step but they fall short of what the sector needs and will lead to delays in the ability of agriculture firms to address the impacts of COVID-19. The sector will inevitably require more assistance in the future, and many businesses will suffer in the interim. Read the statement from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

Championing Alberta’s agriculture sector

In the midst of a global health pandemic, international market and trade challenges, the Alberta government has established an industry advisory committee to act as Champions of Agriculture. This group will meet regularly and provide Agriculture and Forestry with strategic advice and recommendations on emerging issues and priorities related to consumer confidence, and work to debunk myths in the agriculture industry. Championing the agriculture sector focuses on ensuring continued growth and long-term success for the sector by advocating for Alberta’s world-class sustainable agriculture management practices. News and success stories will be shared on the Champions of Agriculture and Forests website.

Agriculture Industry Advisory Committee membership

• Jill Harvie – committee co-chair and owner/operator of Harvie Ranching
• Nichole Neubauer – committee co-chair and owner/operator of Neubauer Farms
• Allison Ammeter – chair, Plant Protein Alliance of Alberta, and farmer
• David Collwell – president and CEO, JBS Foods Canada
• Jeff Fitzpatrick-Stilwell – sustainability and agriculture lead, McDonald’s Canada
• Bob Lowe – president, Canadian Cattlemen’s Association
• Jean-Marc Ruest – senior vice-president, Corporate Affairs and General Counsel, Richardson International Limited
• John Simpson – chair, CANA group of companies and owner/operator of Simpson Ranching
• Baljit Singh – dean, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary
• Gary Stanford – grain farmer and past-chair, Alberta Wheat Commission

Alberta Tourism Information Service Launches Alberta At Home

Across the province, tourism businesses are finding innovative ways to stay connected with their customers now—from virtual concerts to watch from the comfort of their couch to beverage kits they can buy to create an at-home happy hour—and inspire them to try their products and experiences in person when the COVID 19 restrictions are lifted. If you have created a virtual experience or found a unique approach to offering your products to your customers, Travel Alberta wants to help you spread the word. They have updated the Alberta Tourism Information Service (ATIS) to give you the opportunity to promote virtual Offers and Events that customers can experience from home or purchase online to experience later.
How To Participate: Simply log in to ATIS and identify your content with the new ‘Alberta At Home’ activity tag. This content will be collected and shared on a new page on travelalberta.com and on other Travel Alberta marketing channels. To use the Alberta At Home ATIS tag, submit content as an Offer (a product or virtual experience that you are charging for) or an Event (a virtual experience that is free and showcases your business):

• To submit an Offer, you need to have or create a business listing in ATIS and provide a specified price point for what you are selling.
• To submit an Event, you do not need an ATIS business listing, however, the online or virtual experience must be free of charge. If there is a cost attached, please submit the experience as an Offer.