On October 18th, my Motion, M-108, was adopted by the House of Commons with all-party support. M-108 recognizes farmers and ranchers as stewards of the land and conservationists.
It was a great privilege to have the opportunity to introduce M-108, and I am deeply humbled that it was passed unanimously. The government too often forgets about the incredible work farmers and ranchers are doing, so I think it is significant that members of all parties came together to vote in favour of M-108.
As I conveyed to my colleagues in the House, no farmer wakes up in the morning contemplating how to destroy their land. Their property is where their family breathes their air, drinks their water, and eats their food. Many intend to transfer their farm to the next generation. It is always in their best interest to practice responsible stewardship over it.
Through improved efficiency, conservation projects, environmental farm plans, and so many other measures, farmers and ranchers are preserving the environmental integrity of their properties. They are doing so while producing more food than ever before.
M-108 highlights this proud legacy of sound environmental stewardship. Upholding that legacy is increasingly in keeping with the demands of twenty-first century consumers, who prefer more transparency about where their food comes from than ever before. It is therefore a core objective of M-108 to help spread the word far and wide about the important role food producers play as environmental stewards. Canadian and international consumers need to know that buying Canadian agricultural products means supporting a fundamentally sustainable and safe industry.
There has been an enormous shift from rural areas to urban population centres over the course of the last century, which was made possible in large part because food production is so much more efficient. However, this demographic shift means that many Canadians may not be familiar with the details of modern agriculture. Misperceptions about the environmental impact of modern agricultural practices need to be corrected.
All Canadians need to learn about our agricultural industry. They should take pride in our country’s agricultural heritage. They can be confident that they are supporting sound environmental stewardship in doing so. It is my hope that M-108 will be a meaningful step toward enhancing public awareness of these facts.
