COVID-19 outbreaks at huge beef processing facilities in Alberta have highlighted a long-standing problem for B.C. farmers and ranchers, the lack of approved slaughter facilities for beef and other livestock on or close to their farms.
In debate on the agriculture ministry91裸聊视频檚 $77 million operating budget, B.C. Liberal agriculture critic Ian Paton described B.C. farms and ranches with empty fenced areas. He described a lack of small-scale options for meat and vegetable producers, and called for more processing licences and inspections.
91裸聊视频淎ll you need to do is fly over this province and look down at small farms everywhere in B.C., and the livestock are gone,91裸聊视频� Paton told the legislature. 91裸聊视频淭hey used to be there, but there91裸聊视频檚 no livestock inside the fences any more. What we91裸聊视频檝e shown is that 4,000 head of cattle a day being killed at a plant in Alberta 91裸聊视频� or two or three plants in Alberta and across Canada 91裸聊视频� is a little bit susceptible.91裸聊视频�
Agriculture Minister Lana Popham said there is progress on the horizon on food security and expansion of slaughter capacity in B.C.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檝e been working, over the last three years, with the B.C. Cattlemens91裸聊视频� Association to try and figure out a larger way to address larger-scale slaughter in the province,91裸聊视频� Popham said. 91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檇 say we91裸聊视频檙e getting pretty close to being able to see something new happen. It will offer a larger-scale capacity for beef, red meat slaughter. But it91裸聊视频檚 also going to give us the capacity to be able to market our own domestic meat within our province as raised and slaughtered here fully.91裸聊视频�
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Paton introduced a private member91裸聊视频檚 bill this week, calling for an increase in farm-based processing and sales, not just for beef, poultry and other livestock but vegetables as well.
91裸聊视频淚f you91裸聊视频檙e a farmer, you can grow all of the Brussels sprouts and potatoes and whatever in the world, but if you don91裸聊视频檛 have a processing plant nearby to sell that product to, nobody is going to grow it,91裸聊视频� Paton said. 91裸聊视频淭he same with beef and poultry. If you don91裸聊视频檛 have an abattoir or butcher nearby, why would you bother getting into the production of some beef cattle or chickens or turkeys or hogs or whatever? So we need to get more licences out in B.C.91裸聊视频�
Popham was also asked about progress in getting B.C. food onto the menus of hospitals in the province, which she pushed for as critic and has worked on for three years as minister with a program called Feed B.C.
Popham said work began with Interior Health, starting with an expanded greenhouse operation to supply Penticton Regional Hospital. The hospital has also switched to B.C. eggs.
All of the other B.C. health authorities are getting ready to join the Feed B.C. program, and announcements are coming soon, Popham said.
tfletcher@blackpress.ca
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